Abstract
Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) is used to characterize the initial-stage of Pt nanoparticle growth on TiO2(110) surfaces. Atomic-resolution Z-contrast STEM images clearly show that, in contrast to the three-dimensional island growth of Pt nanoparticles when supported on an amorphous substrate, Pt nanoparticles grow in a two-dimensional manner in the initial stage of growth due to the strong interaction with the TiO2 support.