Oxidation of methanol on Pt(Mo) electrodes obtained using galvanic displacement method

The electrocatalytic Pt-Mo system was obtained by formation of platinum particles on the Mo surface under its contact with PtC₆²⁻ (PtCl₄²⁻) under the open circuit conditions. Cyclic voltammograms of the obtained Pt(Mo) electrodes feature well pronounced peaks of hydrogen adsorption and desorption on Pt particles. Nonuniform platinum distribution across the electrode surface was found. Pt(Mo) electrodes showed a higher specific activity in the reaction of methanol oxidation in the potential range of 0.35–0.45 V (RHE) as compared to Pt/Pt.     

Peculiarities of the Pt(Cu)/C catalyst formation by galvanic displacement of copper in H<Subscript>2</Subscript>PtCl<Subscript>4</Subscript> solutions

Specific features of the formation of a Pt(Cu) catalyst by the galvanic displacement of electroplated copper (carbon support) in a PtCl₄²⁻ solution are considered. The composition, the structure, and electrochemical properties of Pt(Cu) deposits in different stages of displacement are studied by a complex of methods (SEM, TEM, XPS, voltammetry, etc.). The gradual formation of a stable “core(Pt, Cu)-shell(Pt)” structure with the average atomic ratio Pt : Cu ≈ 3 : 1 is observed. The results for PtCl₄²⁻ are compared with the analogous results for PtCl₆²⁻ published earlier. Particularly, the reasons for the differences in the steady state potentials established on the Pt(Cu)_st/C electrode in the presence of PtCl₄²⁻ and PtCl₆²⁻ are discussed.     

Surface chemistry and electronics of semiconductor–nanosystem junctions I: metal-nanoemitter-based solar cells

Photoelectrochemically prepared nanotopographies on semiconductors are used for realization of nanoemitter solar devices that are active in the photovoltaic and the photoelectrocatalytic mode. The development of solar devices by a nonlinear electrochemical process and combined chemical/electrochemical metal deposition is described. Based on this low-temperature scalable approach, first efficiencies of 7.3% in the photovoltaic mode are reported for the photoelectrochemical solar cell n-Si/SiO₂/Pt/I₃ ⁻–I⁻. With p-Si/Pt nanocomposite structures, light-induced H₂ evolution is achieved. The surface chemistry and morphology is analyzed by photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. The operational principle of Pt-based nanoemitter solar devices that use silicon single crystal absorbers is analyzed by Mott–Schottky plots, chronoamperometric profiles, and PES. Related to simultaneous oxide formation during Pt deposition, evidence for the formation of a metal–oxide–semiconductor junction is obtained that explains the observed electronic behavior. Contribution to the Fall Meeting of the European Materials Research Society, Symposium D: 9th International Symposium on Electrochemical/Chemical Reactivity of Metastable Materials, Warsaw, 17th–21st September 2007.     

1H MAS NMR characterization of hydrogen over silica-supported rhodium catalyst

Hydrogen species in both SiO₂ and Rh/SiO₂catalysts pretreated in different atmospheres (H₂, O₂, helium or air) at different temperatures (773 or 973 K) were investigated by means of¹H MAS NMR. In SiO₂ and O₂-pretreated catalysts, a series of downfield signals at ∼7.0, 3.8–4.0, 2.0 and 1.5–1.0 were detected. The first two signals can be attributed to strongly adsorbed and physisorbed water and the others to terminal silanol (SiOH) and SiOH under the screening of oxygen vacancies in SiO₂lattice, respectively. Besides the above signals, both upfield signal at ∼−110 and downfield signals at 3.0 and 0.0 were also detected in H₂-pretreated catalyst, respectively. The upfield signal at ∼−110 originated from the dissociative adsorption of H₂ over rhodium and was found to consist of both the contributions of reversible and irreversible hydrogen. There also probably existed another dissociatively adsorbed hydrogen over rhodium, which was known to be β hydrogen and in a unique form of “delocalized hydrogen”. It was presumed that the β hydrogen had an upfield shift of ca. −20–−50, though its¹H NMR signals, which, having been masked by the spinning sidebands of Si-OH, failed to be directly detected out. The downfield signal at 3.0 was assigned to spillover hydrogen weakly bound by the bridge oxygen of SiO₂. Another downfield signal at 0.0 was assigned to hydrogen held in the oxygen vacancies of SiO₂ (Si-H species), suffering from the screening of trapped electrons. Both the spillover hydrogen and the Si-H resulted from the migration of the reversible hydrogen and the β hydrogen from rhodium to SiO₂ in the close vicinity. It was proved that the above migration of hydrogen was preferred to occur at higher temperature than at lower temperature.     

Pt/SO42??ZrO2: The state of platinum and its relation with catalytic activity inn-hexane isomerization

Pt/SO₄ ²⁻−ZrO₂ calcined at 873 K shows the same catalytic activity forn-hexane isomerization as the calcined and reduced sample. A platinum reduction peak did not appear in the TPR profile and the presence of Pt⁰ was detected by XPS on the only calcined Pt/SO₄ ²⁻−ZrO₂. Nevertheless, this calcined material does not show hydrogen chemisorption and cyclohexane dehydrogenation activity.     

Catalytic properties of Pt/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalysts in the aqueous-phase reforming of ethylene glycol: Effect of the alumina support

The influence of the alumina support on the catalytic activity of Pt/Al₂O₃ catalysts in aqueous phase reforming of ethylene glycol to hydrogen was studied. The catalysts were prepared by impregnation of γ-, δ-, and α-alumina with H₂PtCl₆. The highest rate of hydrogen production (452 μmol min⁻¹ g⁻¹) obtained with the Pt/α-Al₂O₃ catalyst can be related to the highest extent of dispersion of Pt on α-Al₂O₃. XPS, TEM-EDX and TPR-H₂ measurements showed the absence of chloride-containing surface complexes in the Pt/α-Al₂O₃ catalyst. However, chloride-containing entities were found on the surface of Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ and Pr/δ-Al₂O₃ catalysts. When chloride ions are removed chlorinated Pt species facilitate the sintering of Pt crystallites and in this way affect the extent of Pt dispersion. Moreover, depending upon the particular crystalline form, alumina atoms have different coordination and alumina surfaces contain varying amounts of OH groups of different nature which affect the interaction between Pt and the support.     

Large electric polarization in BiFeO3 film prepared via a simple sol–gel process

BiFeO₃ film has been deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrate by a simple sol–gel process annealed at 500 °C. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the film was fully crystallized and no impure phase was observed. Cross-section scanning electric microscopy results indicated that the thickness was about 600 nm. Large remanent polarization was observed. The double remanent polarization is 95.8 μC/cm² at an applied field of 800 kV/cm. Intense dielectric dispersion was observed above 100 kHz. At a biased electric field of 167 kV/cm, the leakage current densities were identified as ∼10⁻⁵ to 10⁻⁴ A/cm².     

Does increased chelation enhance the rate of ligand substitution at PtII (N,N,N) centres? A detailed kinetic & mechanistic study

The rate of substitution of the chloride and aqua moieties from the platinum(II)-amine complexes, viz. [Pt(dien)Cl]Cl(Pt1-Chloro) and [Pt(en)(NH₃)Cl]Cl (Pt2-Chloro) and their corresponding aqua analogues, viz. [Pt(dien)(OH₂)] (ClO₄)₂ (Pt1-Aqua) and [Pt(en)(NH₃)(OH₂)](ClO₄)₂ (Pt2-Aqua), by a series of neutral and anionic nucleophiles,viz. thiourea (TU), 1,3-dimethyl-2-thiourea (DMTU), 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-thiourea (TMTU), iodide (I⁻) and thiocyanate (SCN⁻), was determined under pseudo first-order conditions as a function of concentration and temperature using UV/Visible spectrophotometry and standard stopped-flow techniques. The observed pseudo first-order rate constants for the substitution reactions obeyed the simple rate law k _obs = k ₂[Nucleophile]. Second-order kinetics and negative activation entropies, ca. −93 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ and −71 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, for the chloro and aqua complexes respectively, support an associative mode of activation. The rate of substitution of both the chloro and aqua moieties are observed to decrease with an increase in the steric bulk of the neutral nucleophiles, whilst rate of substitution by SCN⁻ was observed to be faster than that of I⁻, in correlation with the observed nucleophilicities of the two nucleophiles. A comparison of the second-order rate constants, k ₂, at 298 K, obtained for the substitution reactions of Pt1and Pt2 shows that an increase in chelation in moving from Pt2 to Pt1 results in a corresponding increase in the reactivity, by a factor of ca. 3, (28.31 ± 0.15 and 8.02 ± 0.13 m ⁻¹ s⁻¹ for Pt1 and Pt2 respectively, in the case of substitution of the aqua species by TU). Computational analysis of the chloro complexes, viz. Pt1-Chloro, Pt2-Chloro and [Pt(NH₃)₃Cl]Cl (Pt3) support this conclusion by demonstrating that the Pt–N bond trans to the leaving group is shortened and that the Pt–Cl bond is lengthened when chelation is increased from Pt3 to Pt1. Consequently, these results suggest that the increase in reactivity of Pt1 over Pt2, promoted by increased chelation, is as a result of ground state destabilization.     

A study on the reduction behavior of silica supported iron and platinum-iron catalysts

The reduction behavior of silica supported iron and platinum-iron catalysts were studied by combinedin situ temperature programmed reduction (TPR)-M?ssbauer Spectroscopy (MBS). The results indicated that the TPR profiles of the supported Fe catalysts were different from that of bulk α-Fe₂O₃. There existed an interaction between the Pt and Fe metals and the SiO₂ support for the Pt−Fe/SiO₂ catalyst. On the supported iron-containing catalysts, the Fe³⁺ species were highly dispersed on the SiO₂ supported before reduction. No Fe⁰ and Fe²⁺ in octahedral vacancy were found in the reduction of SiO₂ supported iron-containing catalysts. Addition of Pt to the Fe/SiO₂ catalyst could promote the reduction of the iron species.     

Sensitive fluorescent probes for determination of hydrogen peroxide and glucose based on enzyme-immobilized magnetite/silica nanoparticles

Sensitive fluorescent probes for the determination of hydrogen peroxide and glucose were developed by immobilizing enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ magnetic core–shell nanoparticles in the presence of glutaraldehyde. Besides its excellent catalytic activity, the immobilized enzyme could be easily and completely recovered by a magnetic separation, and the recovered HRP-immobilized Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ nanoparticles were able to be used repeatedly as catalysts without deactivation. The HRP-immobilized nanoparticles were able to activate hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), which oxidized non-fluorescent 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid to a fluorescent product with an emission maximum at 409 nm. Under optimized conditions, a linear calibration curve was obtained over the H₂O₂ concentrations ranging from 5.0 × 10⁻⁹ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 2.1 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹. By simultaneously using glucose oxidase and HRP-immobilized Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ nanoparticles, a sensitive and selective analytical method for the glucose detection was established. The fluorescence intensity of the product responded well linearly to glucose concentration in the range from 5.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 5.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 1.8 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of glucose in human serum sample.     

Electrochemical studies on Zn deposition and dissolution in sulphate electrolyte

The electrochemical deposition and dissolution of Zn on Pt electrode in sulphate electrolyte was investigated by electrochemical methods in an attempt to contribute to the better understanding of the more complex Zn–Cr alloy electrodeposition process. A decrease of the Zn electrolyte pH (from 5.4 to 1.0) so as to minimise/avoid the formation of hydroxo-products of Cr in the electrolyte for deposition of alloy coatings decreases the current efficiency for the Zn reaction, but the rate of the cathode reaction increases significantly due to intense hydrogen evolution. The results of the investigations in Zn electrolytes with pH 1.0–1.6 indicate that Zn bulk deposition is preceded by hydrogen evolution, stepwise Zn underpotential deposition (UPD) and formation of a Zn–Pt alloy. Hydrogen evolution from H₂O starts in the potential range of Zn bulk deposition. Data obtained from the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) measurements support the assumption that electrochemical deposition of Zn proceeds at potentials more positive than the reversible potential of Zn. Anodic potentiodynamic curves for galvanostatically and potentiostatically deposited Zn layers provide indirect evidence about the dissolution of Zn from an alloy with the Pt substrate. The presumed potential of co-deposition of Cr (−1.9 V vs. Hg/Hg₂SO₄) is reached at a current density of about 300 mA cm⁻².     

Oxidation of Diethyl Sulfide in Aqueous Solutions by Peroxynitrite and the H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>-NO<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> System

It was found that nitrite anions are effective activators of hydrogen peroxide in the reaction with diethyl sulfide. The observed kinetics are consistent with the proposed intermediate formation of peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH). The rate constants for the reaction of diethyl sulfide Et₂S with the acid ONOOH (k₀ = 1.8⋅10³ L/mol⋅s) and with the anion ONOO⁻ (k₋ = 6⋅10⁻² L/mol⋅s) are respectively 10⁵ and three times higher than with hydrogen peroxide. __________ Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Eksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 41, No. 5, pp. 290–295, September–October, 2005.     

Photocatalytic hydrogen generation of Pt-Sr(Zr1 − x Y x )O3 − δ -TiO2 heterojunction under the irradiation of simulated sunlight

The Pt-Sr(Zr_{1 − x} Y _x )O_{3 − δ} -TiO₂(Pt-SZYT) heterojunction photocatalysts were prepared by a photodeposition method. The composite particles were characterized by XRD, SEM, UV-Vis DRS, and PL techniques. Photocatalytic hydrogen generation in H₂C₂O₄ aqueous solution under the irradiation of simulated sunlight was used as a probe reaction to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts. The effects of the content of Pt loading and the concentration of oxalic acid on the photocatalytic activity of the catalyst were discussed. The continuous photocatalytic activity of the Pt-SZYT and the relationship between PL intensity and hydrogen generation were also discussed. The results show that Pt-SZYT catalysts had high photocatalytic activity of hydrogen generation. The content of Pt loading and the concentration of oxalic acid have important influence on the photocatalytic hydrogen generation. The optimal loading content of platinum was 0.90 mass%. Under this condition, the average rate of photocatalytic hydrogen generation was 1.68 mmol·h⁻¹ when the concentration of oxalic acid was 50 mmol·L⁻¹. The higher the photocatalytic activity, the weaker the PL intensity, which was demonstrated by the analysis of PL spectra. __________ Translated from Acta Chimica Sinica, 2008, 61 (in Chinese)     

Effect of polyether diamine on gas permeation properties of organic-inorganic hybrid membranes

The quantitative incorporation and high dispersion of platinum nanoparticles into MCM-41 has been carried out by the coordination between Pt(IV) ion and APTMS-anchored MCM-41. Before and after calcination of Pt/APTMS/MCM41 samples, the Pt content in samples was evaluated from home-made photoacoustic spectrometer (PAS). The PAS bands at 350 nm and 450 nm can be assigned to d–d transition bands of Pt complexes. By increasing the concentration of Pt solution, the PAS intensity of Pt/APTMS/MCM41 was increased proportionally up to 1.0×10⁻² M, and remained constant above 1.0×10⁻² M. It can be attributed to the saturation of Pt content within Pt/APTMS/MCM41. The Pt content in the saturated Pt/APTMS/MCM41 was 8.5 wt% (the theoretical value), 9.7 wt% (measured by EDX) and 9.2 wt% (measured by ESCA), respectively. This indicates that the content of Pt precursor within MCM-41 could be controlled by the concentration of Pt precursor solution. The PAS intensity of calcined Pt/APTMS/MCM41's in H₂ flow was increased up to 1.0×10⁻² M and remained nearly constant above 1.0×10⁻² M. Therefore, we suggest that the formation of Pt complexes with APTMS-anchored MCM-41 made it possible to incorporate quantitatively Pt nanoparticles in the range of 0.5–9.2 wt% within MCM-41 channels.     

Dependence of the adsorption and catalytic properties of a copper-platinum catalyst on the structure of metal particles and the composition of the catalyst surface

The kinetics of H₂ desorption from the surface of a copper-platinum catalyst deposited on silica gel ([1 wt % Pt + 0.15 wt % Cu]/SiO₂) and the kinetics of C₆H₁₂ dehydrogenation were studied. The effects of copper introduction in a platinum catalyst on the structural characteristics of platinum particles, the composition of their surface, and the effects of plasmochemical treatments on these parameters were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The metal-H atom bond energies (E _Pt-H) and the catalytic activity were found to increase in the presence of Cu. This was explained by the formation of new hydrogen adsorption centers (due to the Cu^+δ adatoms) and catalytic centers composed of Cu^+δ adatoms and carbon atoms. The mean diameter of Pt particles (D) increased twofold. The microstresses (ɛ) in the particles increased after the catalyst was treated with glow discharge plasma in Ar and O₂ and with high-frequency plasma in H₂ (HF-H₂). The observed changes in the bond energy E _Pt-H and kinetic parameters were explained by the increase in microstresses in Pt particles.     

Platinum–tin complexes as catalysts for the anodic oxidation of borohydride

Platinum–tin complexes were prepared by the reduction of Pt(IV) with Sn(II) in HCl media and studied by light absorption spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electron microscopy. The formation of three complexes, H₃[Pt(SnCl₃)₅], H₂[Pt(SnCl₃)₂Cl₂], and H₂[Pt₃(SnCl₃)₈], depending on HCl and SnCl₂ concentrations, has been shown. The glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified in the complexes solutions was found to be an electrocatalyst for borohydride oxidation in a 1.0-M NaOH solution. Comparison of BH₄ ⁻ electrooxidation on Pt and on GC modified with platinum–tin complexes has shown that catalytic hydrolysis of BH₄ ⁻ did not proceed in the latter case in contrast to its oxidation on the Pt electrode, and only direct BH₄ ⁻ oxidation has been observed in the positive potentials scan. The activity of Pt–Sn complexes for BH₄ ⁻ oxidation changes with time and eventually decreases due to Sn(II), bound in the complex with Pt(II), oxidation by atmospheric oxygen. The complexes may be renewed by addition of missing amounts of SnCl₂ and HCl.     

Platinum electrocatalysts based on oxide supports for hydrogen and methanol fuel cells

Platinum electrocatalysts for fuel cells based on individual oxides Pt/SnO₂ and Pt/TiO₂ and their solid solutions Pt/Ti_1−x M _x O₂ (M = Ru, Nb) and Pt/Sn_1−x M′ _x O_2−δ(M′ = Sb, Ru) were prepared. The influence of the composition of the oxide supports on the activity of the supported platinum catalysts in electrooxidation of methanol and hydrogen in the presence of CO was studied. The prepared platinum catalysts supported on solid solutions of tin dioxide Sn_1−x M _x O_2−δ(M = Sb, Ru; x = 0.4−0.9) and Ti_1−x M _x O₂ (M = Ru, Nb; x = 0.7) exhibited higher tolerance to CO poisoning and higher activities for methanol electrooxidation than commercial Pt,Ru catalysts on carbon support. The use of the proposed oxide supported catalysts in hydrogen and direct methanol fuel cells improved their performances in comparison with that for the fuel cells with traditional Pt,Ru catalysts on carbon support.     

Water splitting in low-temperature ac plasmas at atmospheric pressure

Plasma-induced water splitting at atmospheric pressure has been studied with a novel fan-type Pt reactor and several tubular-type reactors: an all-quartz reactor, a glass reactor, and three metal reactors with Pt. Ni, and Fe as electrodes. Reaction products have been analyzed by using GC (gas chromatography) and Q-MS (quadrupole mass spectrometry). Optical emission spectroscopic studies of the process have been carried out by employing a CCD (charge-coupled device) detector. Water splitting with tubular quartz and glass reactors is probably non-catalytic. However, a heterogeneous catalytic function of surface of metal electrodes has been observed. The variation of hydrogen yield (Y_H) and energy efficiency (E_e) with operational parameters such as input voltages (U_in), flow rates of carrier gas (F_He), and concentrations of water (C_W) has been examined. Plasma-induced water splitting can be described with a kinetic equation of-dC_w/dt = kC_W ^0.2. The rate constants at 3.25 kV are 2.8 × 10⁻⁴, 3.5 × 10⁻³, and 3.4 × 10⁻² mol^0.8L^−0.8 min⁻¹ for tubular glass reactor, a tubular Pt reactor, and a fan-type Pt reactor, respectively. A CSTR (continuous-stirred tank reactor) and PFR (piston-flow reactor) model have been applied to a fan-type reactor and tubular reactor, respectively. A mechanism on the basis of optical emission spectroscopic data has been obtained comprising the energy transfer from excited carrier gas species to water molecules, which split via radicals of HO^·, O^·, and H^· to form H₂ and O₂. The fan-type Pt reactors exhibit highest activity and energy efficiency among the reactors tested. Higher yields of hydrogen are achieved at higher input voltages, low flow rates, and low concentrations of water (Y_H = 78 % at U_in of 3.75 kV, F_He of 20 mL/min, and C_W of 0.86 %). The energy efficiency exhibits an opposite trend (E_e = 6.1 % at U_in of 1.25 kV, F_He of 60 mL/min and C_W of 3.1 %).     

From a Tb<Superscript>3+</Superscript> chelated compound to a hybrid material: selective emission responses to anions

A novel terbium 2-hydroxymethyl-benzoimidazole-6-carboxylic acid complex has been designed and unique emission changes to fluoride anions in comparison with HSO₄⁻, AcO⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, and I⁻ were observed. Then, the complex was encapsulated into an inorganic matrix. The novel hybrid material, with strong green emission was successfully synthesized as an anions receptor in water. More importantly, this hybrid material not only gave luminescence response to F⁻, but also to HSO₄⁻. Spectroscopic studies demonstrated that the recognition process for fluoride ions can be mainly ascribed to its hydrogen bonding interactions with hydrogen bond donor units (NH and OH). In case of hydrogen sulfate, the sensing effects can be probably attributed to its acidity instead of hydrogen bonding interactions.     

Mechanism of the reduction of molecular nitrogen to hydrazine by niobium (iii) hydroxide

The effect of the concentration of water on the rate of reduction of molecular nitrogen to hydrazine by niobium(iii) hydroxide in alkaline H₂O−MeOH and D₂O−MeOD mixtures was studied. In both cases, the reaction rate is maximum when [H₂O]=4 mol L⁻¹, and the inverse isotopic effect (K ^D/k ^H>1) is observed when [H₂O]<20 mol L⁻¹. Similar regularity was observed for the reaction of hydrogen elimination. It was found that HD is formed in the H₂O−MeOH system in the presence of D₂. The conclusion was made that the ratedetermining stage in hydrazine formation is the transfer of a hydride ion to the dinitrogen molecule coordinated to the binuclear Nb^III center. A kinetic scheme satisfactorily explaining the effect of the concentration of water ([H₂O]=1.5−49.0 mol L⁻¹) on the reaction rate constant was proposed. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1600–1604, September, 1997.