A simple one-step preparation of high utilization AuPt nanoparticles supported on MWCNTs for methanol oxidation in alkaline medium

A simple one-step preparation of gold–platinum electrocatalysts supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with high utilization is reported. A low Pt loading series of bimetallic AuPt/MWCNTs catalysts were prepared by the improved ethylene glycol reduction method, and then they were compared in terms of the electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry in alkaline solutions. The structure of AuPt/MWCNTs was characterized by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed high Pt utilization, uniform AuPt nanoparticles size and good electrocatalytic activity for methanol electro-oxidation. The effect of Au/Pt mass ratio on electrocatalytic activity was also investigated by CV and chronoamperometry. The highest peak current density, lowest onset potential and best anti-poisoning effect for methanol electro-oxidation appeared at the Au/Pt/MWCNTs mass ratio of 2:4:32.     

Bimetallic Pt-Au nanocatalysts electrochemically deposited on graphene and their electrocatalytic characteristics towards oxygen reduction and methanol oxidation

The burgeoning demand for clean and energy-efficient fuel cell system requires electrocatalysts to deliver greater activity and selectivity. Bimetallic catalysts have proven superior to single metal catalysts in this respect. This work reports the preparation, characterization, and electrocatalytic characteristics of a new bimetallic nanocatalyst. The catalyst, Pt-Au-graphene, was synthesized by electrodeposition of Pt-Au nanostructures on the surface of graphene sheets, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and voltammetry. The morphology and composition of the nanocatalyst can be easily controlled by adjusting the molar ratio between Pt and Au precursors. The electrocatalytic characteristics of the nanocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) were systematically investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The Pt-Au-graphene catalysts exhibits higher catalytic activity than Au-graphene and Pt-graphene catalysts for both the ORR and the MOR, and the highest activity is obtained at a Pt/Au molar ratio of 2:1. Moreover, graphene can significantly enhance the long-term stability of the nanocatalyst toward the MOR by effectively removing the accumulated carbonaceous species formed in the oxidation of methanol from the surface of the catalyst. Therefore, this work has demonstrated that a higher performance of ORR and the MOR could be realized at the Pt-Au-graphene electrocatalyst while Pt utilization also could be greatly diminished. This method may open a general approach for the morphology-controlled synthesis of bimetallic Pt-M nanocatalysts, which can be expected to have promising applications in fuel cells.     

Binary clusters AuPt and Au6Pt: structure and reactivity within density functional theory

Within density functional theory with the general gradient approximation for the exchange and correlation, the bimetallic clusters AuPt and Au(6)Pt have been studied for their structure and reactivity. The bond strength of AuPt lies between those of Au(2) and Pt(2), and it is closer to that of Au(2). The Pt atom is the reactive center in both AuPt and AuPt(+) according to electronic structure analysis. AuPt(+) is more stable than AuPt. Au(6)Pt prefers electronic states with low multiplicity. The most stable conformation of Au(6)Pt is a singlet and has quasi-planar hexagonal frame with Pt lying at the hexagonal center. The doping of Pt in Au cluster enhances the chemical regioselectivity of the Au cluster. The Pt atom essentially serves as electron donor and the Au atoms bonded to the Pt atom acts as electron acceptor in Au(6)Pt. The lowest triplet of edge-capped rhombus Au(6)Pt clusters is readily accessible with very small singlet-triplet energy gap (0.32 eV). O(2) prefers to adsorb on Au and CO prefers to adsorb on Pt. O(2) and CO have stronger adsorption on AuPt than they do on Au(6)Pt. CO has a much stronger adsorption on AuPt bimetallic cluster than O(2) does. The adsorption of CO on Pt modifies the geometry of AuPt bimetallic clusters.     

Platinum-catalyzed synthesis of water-soluble gold-platinum nanoparticles

The ability to control composition and size in the synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles is important for the exploitation of the bimetallic catalytic properties. This paper reports findings of an investigation of a new approach to the synthesis of gold-platinum (AuPt) bimetallic nanoparticles in aqueous solution via one-phase reduction of AuCl(4-) and PtCl(4)(2-) using a combination of reducing and capping agents. Hydrogen served as a reducing agent for the reduction of Pt(II), whereas acrylate was used as a reducing agent for the reduction of Au(III). The latter reaction was found to be catalyzed by the formation of Pt as a result of the reduction of Pt(II). Acrylate also functioned as capping agent on the resulting nanocrystals. By controlling the feed ratios of AuCl(4-) and PtCl(4)(2-) and the relative concentrations of acrylate, an effective route for the preparation of AuPt nanoparticles with bimetallic compositions ranging from approximately 4 to 90% Au and particle sizes ranging from 2 to 8 nm has been demonstrated. The composition, size, and shell properties were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, direct current plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Implications of the results to the exploration of bifunctional catalysts are also briefly discussed.     

Tuning the Composition of AuPt Bimetallic Nanoparticles for Antibacterial Application

We show that bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) of AuPt without any surface modification are potent antibiotic reagents, while pure Au NPs or pure Pt NPs display no antibiotic activities. The most potent antibacterial AuPt NPs happen to be the most effective catalysts for chemical transformations. The mechanism of antibiotic action includes the dissipation of membrane potential and the elevation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels. These bimetallic NPs are unique in that they do not produce reactive oxygen species as most antibiotics do. Being non‐toxic to human cells, these bimetallic noble NPs might open an entry to a new class of antibiotics.     

高利用率多壁碳纳米管负载金铂合金纳米粒子催化剂在碱性溶液中的甲醇电催化氧化性能研究

使用乙二醇还原法合成了一系列高利用率多壁碳纳米管负载的金铂双金属纳米粒子电催化剂,在碱性溶液中由循环伏安和计时电流法测试该AuPt催化剂对于甲醇氧化反应的电催化活性.透射电子显微镜、X射线衍射与X射线能谱观测催化剂形貌,表征催化剂结构.结果表明,金铂双金属纳米粒子均匀分散在碳纳米管上,催化剂具有良好甲醇电氧化性能.实验表明Au/Pt/MWCNTs比为10∶8∶32(bymass)时,该催化剂具有最高甲醇电氧化峰电流密度与最负起始氧化电位.     

Pt–Fe cathode catalysts to improve the oxygen reduction reaction and methanol tolerance in direct methanol fuel cells

High surface area carbon-supported Pt and bimetallic Pt–Fe catalysts are investigated for the oxygen electro-reduction reaction (ORR) in low-temperature direct methanol fuel cells (60 °C). The electrocatalysts are prepared using a combination of colloidal and incipient wetness methods allowing the synthesis of carbon-supported bimetallic nanoparticles with a particle size of about 2–3 nm. These materials are studied in terms of structure, morphology and composition using X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The electrocatalytic behaviour of these catalysts for ORR is investigated by employing the rotating disc technique. An enhancement of the ORR is observed with the bimetallic Pt–Fe catalyst in the oxygen-saturated electrolyte solution, with and without methanol. Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Teresa Iwasita on the occasion of her 65th birthday in recognition of her numerous contributions to interfacial electrochemistry.     

Composition-Controllable AuPt Alloy Catalysts for Electrooxidation of Formic Acid

AuPt alloy catalysts with various compositions have been successfully prepared simply by one-step co-reduction of Au and Pt precursors involving sodium citrate as stabilizer and reductant. XRD, TEM and EDX element mapping analysis confirmed that the resulting AuPt nanoparticles are single-phase alloys rather than random mixtures of tiny Au and Pt particles. Compared with Pt/C, alloying Au with Pt can effectively alter the kinetic process of formic acid oxidation, reducing the generation of CO-like intermediates. Au₈₁Pt₁₉ displays superior electrocatalytic activity and durability, ~11 times in the mass activity better than commercial Pt/C and may be of practical significance for the commercialization of direct formic acid fuel cell.

     

Heterogeneously catalyzed oxidation of butanediols in base free aqueous media

The oxidation of four butanediols under base-free conditions has been investigated using a set of Au, Pd and Pt catalysts prepared using sol-immobilization. The supported nanoparticles are found to be active with bimetallic alloys having much higher activity when compared with the monometallic counterparts. In general the AuPt catalysts are the most active and in all cases the corresponding C4 oxidation products were observed with high selectivity; sequential reaction of these products leads to the formation of acetic acid as an undesired by-product.     

Graphene nanoplatelets supported metal nanoparticles for electrochemical oxidation of hydrazine

Graphene nanoplatelets have been applied as the support to electrodeposit monometallic Au and Pd nanoparticles as well as bimetallic Au–Pd nanoparticles. These nanoparticles have been characterized with scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, and electrochemical techniques. They are further utilized as the catalysts for electrochemical oxidation of hydrazine. The oxidation peak potential is − 0.35 and 0.53 V (vs. SCE) when monometallic Pd and Au nanoparticle are used as the catalysts. When bimetallic nanoparticles are applied as the catalyst, their composition affects the peak potential and peak current for the oxidation of hydrazine. Higher oxidation current is achieved when bimetallic Au–Pd nanoparticles with an atomic ratio of 3:1 are deposited on graphene nanoplatelets. Metal nanoparticle-loaded graphene nanoplatelets are thus novel platforms for electrocatalytic, electroanalytical, environmental, and related applications.     

Au nanowires with high aspect ratio and atomic shell of Pt-Ru alloy for enhanced methanol oxidation reaction

The methanol oxidation reaction(MOR) is the limiting half-reaction in direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC).Although Pt is the most active single-metal electrocatalyst for MOR,it is hampered by high cost and CO poisoning.Constructing a Pt or Ru monolayer on a second metal substrate by means of galvanic replacement of underpotentially deposited(UPD) Cu monolayer has been shown as an efficient catalyst design strategy for the electrocatalysis of MOR because of the presumed 100% utilization of atoms and resistance to CO poisoning.Herein,we prepared one-dimensional surface-alloyed electrocatalyst from predominantly(111) faceted Au nanowires with high aspect ratio as the substrate of under-potential deposition.The electrocatalyst comprises a core of the Au nanowire and a shell of catalytically active Pt coated by Ru.Coverage-dependent electro-catalytic activity and stability is demonstrated on the Pt/Ru submonolayers on Au wires for MOR.Among all these catalysts,Au@Pt_(ML)@Ru_(ML) exhibits the best electrocatalytic activity and poisoning tolerance to CO.This presents a viable method for the rational catalyst design for achieving high noble-metal utilization efficiency and high catalytic performance.     

Self-assembly of mixed Pt and Au nanoparticles on PDDA-functionalized graphene as effective electrocatalysts for formic acid oxidation of fuel cells

Pt and Au nanoparticles with controlled Pt?:?Au molar ratios and PtAu nanoparticle loadings were successfully self-assembled onto poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA)-functionalized graphene (PDDA-G) as highly effective electrocatalysts for formic acid oxidation in direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs). The simultaneously assembled Pt and Au nanoparticles on PDDA-G showed superb electrocatalytic activity for HCOOH oxidation, and the current density associated with the preferred dehydrogenation pathway for the direct formation of CO(2) through HCOOH oxidation on a Pt(1)Au(8)/PDDA-G (i.e., a Pt?:?Au ratio of 1?:?8) is 32 times higher than on monometallic Pt/PDDA-G. The main function of the Au in the mixed Pt and Au nanoparticles on PDDA-G is to facilitate the first electron transfer from HCOOH to HCOO(ads) and the effective spillover of HCOO(ads) from Au to Pt nanoparticles, where HCOO(ads) is further oxidized to CO(2). The Pt?:?Au molar ratio and PtAu nanoparticle loading on PDDA-G supports are the two critical factors to achieve excellent electrocatalytic activity of PtAu/PDDA-G catalysts for the HCOOH oxidation reactions.     

Metal-alloy-dispersed carbon-paste enzyme electrodes for amperometric biosensing of glucose

The preferential electrocatalytic detection of hydrogen peroxide and the selective biosensing of glucose at carbon-paste enzyme electrodes dispersed with bimetallic (Ru–Pt) alloy particles are described. Unlike the marked acceleration of the redox reaction of the peroxide product (versus single metal catalysts), the signals of common interfering compounds shift to higher potentials. Such use of carbon-supported alloy particles thus results in a greatly enhanced sensitivity compared to the dispersion of pure metals, without compromising the remarkable selectivity inherent to metallized carbon biosensors.     

Electrooxidation of Several Organic Compounds on Simply Prepared Metallic Nanoparticles: A Comparative Study

The electrooxidation of several fuel compounds was studied using metallic nanoparticles of Au, Pd, Pt, AuPd and AuPt synthesized by direct electrodeposition by applying a constant potential of ‐200 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) to pencil graphite in an acidic medium. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) data show that monometallic (Au, Pd and Pt) and alloys of bimetallic nanoparticles of AuPd and AuPt have been formed. The catalytic performance of the prepared electrodes was investigated in a neutral medium (100 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7) by cyclic voltammetry. Amongst all fuels, the highest current densities were obtained by the electrooxidation of formic acid (ca. 9.8 mA cm^?2) and formaldehyde (ca. 9.7 mA cm^?2) on the AuPt catalyst.     

Thermodynamic guidelines for the design of bimetallic catalysts for oxygen electroreduction and rapid screening by scanning electrochemical microscopy. M-co (M: Pd, Ag, Au)

We propose guidelines for the design of improved bimetallic (and related) electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic media. This guide is based on simple thermodynamic principles assuming a simple mechanism where one metal breaks the oxygen-oxygen bond of molecular O(2) and the other metal acts to reduce the resulting adsorbed atomic oxygen. Analysis of the Gibbs free energies of these two reactions guides the selection of combinations of metals that can produce alloy surfaces with enhanced activity for the ORR when compared to the constituent metals. Selected systems have been tested by fabricating arrays of metallic catalysts consisting of various binary and ternary combinations of Pd, Au, Ag, and Co deposited on glassy carbon (GC) substrates. The electrocatalytic activity of these materials for the ORR in acidic medium was examined using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in a new rapid-imaging mode. This was used to rapidly screen arrays covering a wide range of catalyst compositions for their activity for the ORR in 0.5 M H(2)SO(4). Using the SECM technique, we have identified combinations of metals with enhanced electrocatalytic activities when compared with the constituent, pure metals. Addition of Co to Pd, Au, and Ag clearly decreases the ORR overpotential, in agreement with the proposed model. Catalyst spots that exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activity in the SECM screening technique were then examined using classical rotating disk electrode (RDE) experiments. The activity of carbon black supported catalyst mixtures on a GC RDE and the electrocatalytic activity determined using the SECM screening technique showed excellent agreement. C/Pd-Co electrodes (10-30% Co) exhibited remarkable activity for ORR catalysis, close to that of carbon-supported Pt.     

Electrochemical Sensor for Oxidation of NO Based on Au-Pt Nanoparticles Self-assembly Film

Au-Pt bimetallic nanoparticles film used as an efficient electrochemical sensor was prepared by self-assembled Au-Pt bimetallic nanoparticles on a glassy carbon (GC) substrate using thioglycolic acid as a linker. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the Au-Pt nanoparticles self-assembly film was dense and uniform. Electrochemical experiments revealed that Au-Pt bimetallic nanoparticles film/GC electrode showed high electrocatalytic activity to the oxidation of nitric oxide.     

Electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction and small alcohol oxidation in alkaline media

We present here a critical review of several technologically important electrocatalytic systems operating in alkaline electrolytes. These include the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) occurring on catalysts containing Pt, Pd, Ir, Ru, or Ag, the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) occurring on Pt-containing catalysts, and the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) occurring on Ni-Co-Fe alloy catalysts. Each of these catalytic systems is relevant to alkaline fuel cell (AFC) technology, while the ORR systems are also relevant to chlor-alkali electrolysis and metal-air batteries. The use of alkaline media presents advantages both in electrocatalytic activity and in materials stability and corrosion. Therefore, prospects for the continued development of alkaline electrocatalytic systems, including alkaline fuel cells, seem very promising.     

One-step synthesis of carbon-supported Pd–Pt alloy electrocatalysts for methanol tolerant oxygen reduction

A facile, one-step reduction route was developed to synthesize Pd-rich carbon-supported Pd–Pt alloy electrocatalysts of different Pd/Pt atomic ratios. As-prepared Pd–Pt/C catalysts exhibit a single phase fcc structure and an expansion lattice parameter. Comparison of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on the Pd–Pt/C alloy catalysts indicates that the Pd₃Pt₁/C bimetallic catalyst exhibits the highest ORR activity among all the Pd–Pt alloy catalysts and shows a comparative ORR activity with the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Moreover, all the Pd–Pt alloy catalysts exhibited much higher methanol tolerance during the ORR than the commercial Pt/C catalyst. High methanol tolerance of the Pd–Pt alloy catalysts could be attributed to the weak adsorption of methanol induced by the composition effect, to the presence of Pd atoms and to the formation of Pd-based alloys.     

Au促进Pt/WO3催化甘油氢解制1,3-丙二醇

近年来, 以生物质为基础的生物柴油得到了迅速发展, 导致了粗甘油过剩. 通过甘油选择性氢解制1,3-丙二醇, 进而被用于合成高价值的聚对苯二甲酸丙二醇酯被认为是最具工业应用潜力的反应之一, 对于提高生物柴油的利用效率有着极其重要的意义. 但由于反应空间位阻和热力学上的限制给甘油氢解制1,3-丙二醇带来了很大的挑战, 因此需要设计高活性的金属-酸双功能催化剂以降低甘油第二个C-O键断裂的活化能和减少其他副反应的发生. 目前Pt-W和Ir-Re双功能催化剂可高选择性制得1,3-丙二醇, 但仍需较严苛的反应条件实现对氢气的活化和解离. 本课题组曾将准单原子/单原子Pt高度分散于具有大量氧空位和酸位点的WOx载体上, 十分有利于甘油选择性氢解制1,3-丙二醇反应; 在Au-Pt/WOx催化剂中添加Au可促进B酸产生, 进而提高了甘油转化率和1,3-丙二醇的选择性.为了进一步研究Au对Pt/WOx催化剂结构和催化性能的影响, 本文利用CTAB辅助吸附法制备了Au/WO3, 再浸渍Pt制得Pt/Au/WO3双金属催化剂. 在甘油选择性氢解制1,3-丙二醇反应中, 所制催化剂表现出比Au-Pt/WOx更好的催化活性, 1,3-丙二醇时空收率为0.078 g1,3-PDO/(gcat·h), 是后者的1.95倍. 值得一提的是, Au-Pt/WOx催化剂在低压时活性较高, 而Pt/Au/WO3催化剂活性则在压力的升高而提高; 另外反应温度的升高导致副产物正丙醇的选择性上升, 1,3-丙二醇的选择性降低. 因此, 适宜的反应条件为155℃和5 MPa. 与Pt/WO3和Pt/WOx相比, Pt/Au/WO3表现出了更优异的催化性能, 其1,3-丙二醇的时空收率是Pt/WO3的2.36倍和Pt/WOx的4倍.为了探究Au的掺入对Pt/WOx催化剂性能的影响, 通过XRD, TEM, H2-TPR和XPS等技术对催化剂进行了深入表征. 结果表明, 与Pt/WO3相比, Pt/Au/WO3-600催化剂的XRD衍射峰向小角度偏移, 其原因是Au3+离子半径(0.85 ?)比W6+的(0.60 ?)大, Au3+以取代晶格W6+形式进入WO3晶格中; 对H2-TPR前300 ℃耗氢量的计算可知:Pt/WO3可被还原至Pt/WO2.96, 而Pt/Au/WO3可被还原至Pt/Au/WO2.91. 因此与Pt/WO3相比, Pt/Au/WO3表面氧空位更加丰富. TEM和XPS表征可知, 添加0.1 wt%Au后, 促进了更低价态的Pt均匀分散在WO3载体上, 其平均粒径为2.36 nm.综上所述, Au的掺杂改变了Pt/Au/WO3双金属催化剂的结构, 不仅降低了Pt和W的还原温度, 削弱了Pt和W之间的相互作用, 也促进了更低价态的Pt均匀分散于WO3载体上, 使得Pt/Au/WO3双金属催化剂在甘油氢解制1,3-丙二醇反应中具有更为优异的活性和产物选择性. 该催化剂有望被广泛运用于其他生物质平台化合物加氢脱氧的反应中.     

A general method for the rapid synthesis of hollow metallic or bimetallic nanoelectrocatalysts with urchinlike morphology

We have reported a facile and general method for the rapid synthesis of hollow nanostructures with urchinlike morphology. In-situ produced Ag nanoparticles can be used as sacrificial templates to rapidly synthesize diverse hollow urchinlike metallic or bimetallic (such as Au/Pt) nanostructures. It has been found that heating the solution at 100 degrees C during the galvanic replacement is very necessary for obtaining urchinlike nanostructures. Through changing the molar ratios of Ag to Pt, the wall thickness of hollow nanospheres can be easily controlled; through changing the diameter of Ag nanoparticles, the size of cavity of hollow nanospheres can be facilely controlled; through changing the morphologies of Ag nanostructures from nanoparticle to nanowire, hollow Pt nanotubes can be easily designed. This one-pot approach can be extended to synthesize other hollow nanospheres such as Pd, Pd/Pt, Au/Pd, and Au/Pt. The features of this technique are that it is facile, quick, economical, and versatile. Most importantly, the hollow bimetallic nanospheres (Au/Pt and Pd/Pt) obtained here exhibit an area of greater electrochemical activity than other Pt hollow or solid nanospheres. In addition, the approximately 6 nm hollow urchinlike Pt nanospheres can achieve a potential of up to 0.57 V for oxygen reduction, which is about 200 mV more positive than that obtained by using a approximately 6 nm Pt nanoparticle modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode. Rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) voltammetry demonstrates that approximately 6 nm hollow Pt nanospheres can catalyze an almost four-electron reduction of O(2) to H(2)O in air-saturated H(2)SO(4) (0.5 M). Finally, compared to the approximately 6 nm Pt nanoparticle catalyst, the approximately 6 nm hollow urchinlike Pt nanosphere catalyst exhibits a superior electrocatalytic activity toward the methanol oxidation reaction at the same Pt loadings.