Promotion of the electrochemical activity of a bimetallic platinum-ruthenium catalyst by oxidation-induced segregation

An alloy catalyst of 15 wt % Pt(50)Ru(50)/C was prepared by the method of incipient wetness impregnation and activated by hydrogen reduction at 620 K. Physical characterization of the freshly reduced catalyst indicated that bimetallic crystallites, Pt rich in the shell and Ru rich in the core, were finely dispersed in a diameter of dPtRu approximately 2 nm on carbon support. The reduced catalyst was subsequently modified by oxidization in air. On increasing the temperature of oxidation (T(o)), atoms of Ru in the core were found segregated to the surface of bimetallic crystallites and oxidized to amorphous RuO(2). Crystalline RuO(2) (RucO(2)) was formed on extensive segregation at To > 520 K. Catalytic activity of the alloy catalyst for electro-oxidation of methanol was examined by cyclic voltammetry. Electrochemical activity of the Pt-Ru/C catalyst was found to be significantly enhanced by oxidation treatments. The enhancement was, therefore, attributed to the segregation of Ru and the formation of RucO(2). Extensive oxidation treatment at elevated temperatures of To > 600 K, however, caused the deactivation of the electroactivity. The deactivation should be the result of excessive oxidation of the carbon support.     

聚乙烯吡咯烷酮对Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇的结构和催化性能影响

以乙二醇为还原剂,通过微波热辐射制备得到稳定的Pt/Ru双金属胶体纳米簇,各颗粒粒径在1~2nm范围。考察了聚合物聚乙烯吡咯烷酮（PVP）对Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇表面原子组成及催化性能的影响。结果表明,PVP与金属前体之间的不同相互作用影响Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇的形成。在Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇形成之前加入PVP,Pt原子更容易富集在双金属表面,有利于增加Pt在催化反应中的作用。在PVP稳定的Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇中,除了零价态的Pt、Ru单质外,还存在氧化态的Pt化合物,归因于PVP与Pt前体的相互作用。在环己烯加氢反应中,PVP-Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇显示出比单金属纳米簇更优越的催化性能。     

Temperature-programmed reduction study on carbon-supported platinum-gold alloy catalysts

Alloy catalysts of Pt-Au/C with different Pt/Au ratios were prepared by the precipitation-deposition of metal chlorides and reduced by H(2) at 470 K. The surface composition of alloy crystallites deposited on the prepared catalysts was characterized by a technique of temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). In the characterization, O(2) was chemisorbed on the reduced catalysts and the chemisorbed O(2) was reduced by TPR. A low-temperature routine (LT) in the temperature range between 120 and 430 K was used for the TPR characterization. Monometallic catalysts of Au/C and Pt/C showed a reduction peak in the LT-TPR at reduction temperature (T(r))=145 and 240 K, respectively. T(r) from alloyed catalysts fell in the range and increased monotonously with their Pt/Au ratios. Interior Pt atoms in deposited alloy particles tended to segregate toward their surface during oxidation treatment at elevated temperatures.     

Synthesis of Pt/Ru bimetallic nanoparticles in high-temperature and high-pressure fluids

A high-temperature and high-pressure flow-reactor system was applied to the synthesis of monometallic ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles and platinum/ruthenium (Pt/Ru) bimetallic nanoparticles using the thermal reduction of ruthenium ion (Ru(III)) and the mixture of platinum (Pt(IV)) and ruthenium ions in water and ethanol mixture in the presence of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone). Monometallic Ru nanoparticles with an average diameter of ca. 2 nm were synthesized above 200 degrees C at 30 MPa. The monometallic Ru nanoparticles tended to make large aggregates in colloidal dispersions. By the reduction of the mixture solution of Pt(IV) and Ru(III) in water and ethanol above 200 degrees C at 30 MPa, Pt/Ru bimetallic nanoparticles with an average diameter of ca. 2.5 nm were synthesized with relatively small size distribution. The EXAFS spectra for the Pt/Ru bimetallic particles indicated that the particle possesses metallic bonds between Pt and Ru atoms in contrast to the case of the nanoparticles produced by thermal reduction under ambient pressure at 100 degrees C [M. Harada, N. Toshima, K. Yoshida, S. Isoda, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 283 (2005) 64], and that the Pt/Ru bimetallic particle has a Pt-core/Ru-shell structure.     

Multilayered Pt/Ru nanorods with controllable bimetallic sites as methanol oxidation catalysts

A physical synthesis of multilayered Pt/Ru nanorods with controllable bimetallic sites as methanol oxidation catalysts is reported for the first time. The novel nanorods were synthesized via the oblique angle deposition method, deposited prior to the formation of each individual noble metal layer, in a sequential fashion. It has been shown that the oblique angle deposition controls the morphology and electrochemical properties of the resultant nanostructures. Sequentially the multilayered nanorods comprising Pt and Ru segments exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity when compared to equivalent monometallic Pt nanorods with respect to methanol electrooxidation reaction in an acidic medium. Moreover, it has been established that the electrochemical process takes place at the Pt/Ru nanorods followed the bifunctional mechanism. The relative rates of reaction, recorded using chronoamperometry, show a linear relationship between the long-time current density and the number of Pt/Ru interfaces. Interestingly, the best catalyst for methanol oxidation was found to the surface of bimetallic Pt/Ru nanorods produced by the heat treatments via the so-called electronic effect. This reflects the fact that the ensemble effects of combined bifunctional and electronic effects via second elements could be expected in methanol oxidation reactions. Electrocatalytic activities correlate well with bimetallic pair sites and electronic properties analyzed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and X-ray absorption near-edge structure.     

聚乙烯吡咯烷酮对Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇的结构和催化性能影响

以乙二醇为还原剂,通过微波热辐射制备得到稳定的Pt/Ru双金属胶体纳米簇,各颗粒粒径在1~2 nm范围。考察了聚合物聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)对Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇表面原子组成及催化性能的影响。结果表明,PVP与金属前体之间的不同相互作用影响Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇的形成。在Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇形成之前加入PVP,Pt原子更容易富集在双金属表面,有利于增加Pt在催化反应中的作用。在PVP稳定的Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇中,除了零价态的Pt、Ru单质外,还存在氧化态的Pt化合物,归因于PVP与Pt前体的相互作用。在环己烯加氢反应中,PVP-Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇显示出比单金属纳米簇更优越的催化性能。     

Characterization of Pt-Ru/C catalysts by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and temperature-programmed surface reaction

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was employed to characterize carbon black supported Pt-Ru catalysts, which are commercially available to be utilized as the anode of polymeric-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells. Both Pt and Ru were found partially oxidized in the as-received form. Upon exposure to hydrogen at room temperature, the catalysts were completely reduced to the metallic state. The bimetallic nanoparticles on the Pt-Ru/C catalysts possess an inner core enriched in Pt, which is surrounded by a Ru-rich outer shell. Such a core–shell structure retained even at an elevated reduction temperature of 623 K. Temperature-programmed surface reaction (TPSR) was carried out to explore the reactivity of adsorbed CO toward hydrogen on various catalysts. Both the peak temperature of the TPSR profile and the amount of methane generated during the course of TPSR were sensitive to the surface composition of Pt–Ru nanoparticles. In combination of XAS and TPSR results, a slight difference in the nanostructure between two Pt-Ru/C catalysts was manifested.     

Electrochemical oxidation of methanol using dppm-bridged Ru/Pd, Ru/Pt and Ru/Au catalysts

The electrochemical oxidation of methanol was carried out using a series of dppm-bridged Ru/Pd, Ru/Pt and Ru/Au heterobimetallic complexes as catalysts. The major oxidation products were formaldehyde dimethyl acetal (dimethoxymethane, DMM) and methyl formate (MF). The Ru/Pd and Ru/Pt bimetallic catalysts generally afforded lower product ratios of DMM/MF and higher current efficiencies than the Ru/Au catalysts. The Ru/Au bimetallics exhibited product ratios and current efficiencies similar to those obtained from the Ru mononuclear compound CpRu(PPh(3))(2)Cl. Increasing the methanol concentration afforded higher current efficiencies, while the addition of water to the samples shifted the product distribution toward the more highly oxidized product, MF.     

Fabrication and characterization of bimetallic Pt-Au nanowires supported on FSM-16 and their catalytic activities toward water-gas shift reaction

A facile, previously unexplored, method to synthesize bimetallic Pt-Au nanowires (20nm diameter×120-170nm long) on mesoporous FSM-16 (2.7nm) was fabricated by co-impregnation of H(2)PtCl(6) with HAuCl(4) followed by evacuation at 300K and finally exposure to the CO/H(2)O gas mixture (60:5Torr) at 323K for 1.0h. On the other hand, spherical monometallic nanoparticles of pure Pt (7.0nm diameter) and Au (7-26nm diameter) were synthesized as well, by impregnation, at the same reaction conditions. The catalysts were characterized by in situ FTIR spectroscopy, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, TEM, TPR and TPCOR. The catalytic activities toward the water-gas shift reaction (WGSR) were also examined under atmospheric pressure and at the margin of 323-373K. The optical absorption spectra showed a remarkable shift and broadening of Pt-Au surface Plasmon resonance band at 515nm apart from those of individual analogue emphasizing bimetallic formation. Results from in situ FTIR spectroscopy indicated that incorporation of Au assisted and stabilized the formation of carbonyl clusters of Pt-Au-CO (2084cm(-1)) and Pt-CO (1888cm(-1)) inside the host FSM-16. The Pt-Au carbonyl clusters built up at the moment of vanishing the linear carbonyl band of the charged Au (Au(+)-CO, 2186cm(-1)) along with a concomitant increase in the reduced gold (Au(0)-CO, 2124cm(-1)) species. TPR profiles showed that the H(2) consumed was higher for Pt/FSM-16 than for Pt-Au/FSM-16 verifying the facile reduction of Pt moieties after addition of Au. The CO adsorption peak maximum, in TPCOR, for Pt/FSM-16 occurred at higher temperature than that of Pt-Au/FSM-16, which exhibited higher amounts of CO(2) produced. The relative decrease in CO bindings on bimetallic surface was responsible for increasing the CO oxidation activity mainly through an association mechanism. Accordingly, the activity of Pt-Au/FSM-16 towards WGS showed a marked increase (8-23 times) compared with those of monometallics emphasizing the dependence of this reaction on the electronic defects of the nanowires. A straightforward reduction mechanism was deduced for Pt-Au alloy formation in view of the results obtained.     

Nanoscale bimetallic catalysts: are they really bimetallic?

The existence of bimetallic particles (and their reducibility and location on/or in the support) in Ru–Co/NaY and Pt–Co/NaY samples has been studied by in situ X-ray adsorption spectroscopy (XAS). It is established that in Ru–Co/NaY the monometallic clusters maintain their identity, whereas in Pt–Co/NaY the existence of small bimetallic particles can be established. In both cases the results are supported by other techniques, such as XPS and temperature-programmed reduction. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aggregated structure analysis of polymer-protected platinum/ruthenium colloidal dispersions using EXAFS, HRTEM, and electron diffraction measurements

Polymer-protected platinum/ruthenium colloidal dispersions were prepared by refluxing mixed solutions of hexachloroplatinic(IV) acid and ruthenium(III) chloride in a mixture of ethanol/water (1/1 v/v) in the presence of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone). The electronic spectra and transmission electron micrographs suggested that the colloidal dispersions are almost composed of the mixture of the small monometallic Pt and Ru clusters over all the ratio of Pt/Ru compositions. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure analyses and high resolution electron microprobe analyses indicated that no Pt/Ru alloy clusters exist in the dispersions, and the aggregation occurs between small monometallic Pt clusters (diameter ca. 15 A) and partially oxidized Ru microclusters (diameter less than 10 A). Electron diffraction measurements also suggested that the diffraction pattern of aggregated Pt/Ru cluster particles prepared by the simultaneous reduction of Pt and Ru ions is the same as that of the physical mixture of the small monometallic Pt and Ru clusters separately prepared. Therefore, it can be concluded that the aggregated Pt/Ru cluster particles, with 10 to 60 A in diameter, are built up by small monometallic Pt clusters and partially oxidized Ru microclusters, and that Pt/Ru alloy clusters are not formed.     

The chemistry of trimethylamine on Ru(001) and O/Ru(001)

The interaction and reactivity of trimethylamine (TMA) has been studied over clean and oxygen-covered Ru(001) under UHV conditions, as a model for the chemistry of high-density hydrocarbons on a catalytic surface. The molecule adsorbs intact at surface temperature below 100 K with the nitrogen end directed toward the surface, as indicated from work function change measurements. At coverage less than 0.05 ML (relative to the Ru substrate atoms), TMA fully dissociates upon surface heating, with hydrogen as the only evolving molecule following temperature-programmed reaction/desorption (TPR/TPD). At higher coverage, the parent molecule desorbs, and its desorption peak shifts down from 270 K to 115 K upon completion of the first monolayer, indicating a strong repulsion among neighbor molecules. The dipole moment of an adsorbed TMA molecule has been estimated from work function study to be 1.4 D. Oxygen precoverage on the ruthenium surface has shown efficient reactivity with TMA. It shifts the surface chemistry toward the production of various oxygen-containing stable molecules such as H2CO, CO2, and CO that desorb between 200 and 600 K, respectively. TMA at a coverage of 0.5 ML practically cleans off the surface from its oxygen atoms as a result of TPR up to 1650 K, in contrast to CO oxidation on the O/Ru(001) surface. The overall reactivity of TMA on the oxidized ruthenium surface has been described as a multistep reaction mechanism.     

Carbon monoxide adsorption on Ru-modified Pt surfaces: time-resolved infrared reflection absorption studies in ultrahigh vacuum

The vibrational spectra of CO adsorbed on Ru-modified Pt(100) surfaces prepared by chemical vapor deposition (condensation of Ru(3)(CO)(12) at 105 K followed by X-ray irradiation and thermal decomposition at 650 K in ultrahigh vacuum, UHV) was investigated by time-resolved infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) in UHV. Spectra were recorded while Ru/Pt(100) bimetallic surfaces (theta(Ru) = 0.24 and 0.52 by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS) were dosed with gas-phase CO. Analysis of the data revealed that for a wide range of calibrated CO exposures, the linear CO-stretching region displays two features: a higher energy peak (2085-2100 cm(-1)), attributed to CO adsorbed on pristine Pt(100) sites, and a lower energy peak (2066-2092 cm(-1)), ascribed to adsorption of CO on sites on the surface induced by the presence of Ru. Similar experiments were performed on bimetallic specimens annealed repeatedly in UHV to 650 K to promote partial Ru dissolution into the lattice and thus render surfaces gradually enriched in Pt. For all surfaces and CO exposures examined, the total integrated area under the two CO spectral features remained fairly constant and equal in value to the corresponding areas found for bare Pt(100). If it is assumed that a fixed exposure leads to a fixed coverage on both bare and Ru-modified Pt(100)surfaces, and the thermal treatment leads to an exchange of Ru by Pt sites without altering significantly the total number of metal sites on the surface, the absorption cross sections for both of these peaks are virtually the same.     

Hydrogenation of citral over pt and pt-fe/sio2 catalysts

Summary Pt/SiO₂ and Pt-Fe/SiO₂ catalysts having a Pt loading ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 wt.% and a fixed amount of Fe in the bimetallic series, 1.0 wt.% have been prepared by the impregnation procedure, followed by calcinations and reduction in H₂ flow at 773 K. The samples were characterized by N₂ adsorption at 77 K, H₂ chemisorption at 298 K, TEM, TPR and XPS. The hydrogenation of citral at 363 K and 8.3 bar over a series of Pt/SiO₂ and Pt-Fe/SiO₂ catalysts was studied. Thus, the selectivity towards the unsaturated alcohol (geraniol + nerol) decreases at high loads of monometallic Pt. An effect of polarization of the C=O bond due to the presence of Fe³⁺ species leads to catalysts active and highly selective to the hydrogenation of the carbonyl bond. Characterization results showed that Pt is present as Pt^o and Fe mainly asFe³⁺.     

Heat-induced alterations in the surface population of metal sites in bimetallic nanoparticles

The ability to alter the surface population of metal sites in bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) is of great interest in the context of heterogeneous catalysis. Here, we report findings of surface alterations of Pt and Ru metallic sites in bimetallic carbon-supported (PtRu/C) NPs that were induced by employing a controlled thermal-treatment strategy. The thermal-treatment procedure was designed in such a way that the particle size of the initial NPs was not altered and only the surface population of Pt and Ru was changed, thus allowing us to deduce structural information independent of particle-size effects. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was utilized to deduce the structural parameters that can provide information on atomic distribution and/or extent of alloying as well as the surface population of Pt and Ru in PtRu/C NPs. The PtRu/C catalyst sample was obtained from Johnson Matthey, and first the as-received catalyst was reduced in 2 % H2 and 98 % Ar gas mixture at 300 degrees C for 4 h (PtRu/C as-reduced). Later this sample was subjected to thermal treatment in either oxygen (PtRu/C-O2-300) or hydrogen (PtRu/C-H2-350). The XAS results reveal that when the as-reduced PtRu/C catalyst was exposed to the O2 thermal-treatment strategy, a considerable amount of Ru was moved to the catalyst surface. In contrast, the H2 thermal-treatment strategy led to a higher population of Pt on the PtRu/C surface. Characterization of the heat-treated PtRu/C samples by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy reveals that there is no significant change in the particle size of thermally treated samples when compared to the as-received PtRu/C sample. The electrochemical properties of the as-reduced and heat-treated PtRu/C catalyst samples were confirmed by cyclic voltammetry, CO-adsorption stripping voltammetry, and linear sweep voltammetry. Both XAS and electrochemical investigations concluded that the PtRu/C-H2-350 sample exhibits significant enhancement in reactivity toward methanol oxidation as a result of the increased surface population of the Pt when compared to the PtRu/C-O2-300 and PtRu/C as-reduced samples.     

Transmission electron microscopy studies of the nanoscale structure and chemistry of Pt50Ru50 electrocatalysts.

The structural and chemical heterogeneity of 2.5-nm Pt50Ru50 electrocatalysts was studied by transmission electron microscopy using selected area diffraction, lattice imaging, electron-energy loss spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The catalysts with the highest methanol oxidation activities exhibit oxidation-induced phase separation on the nanoscale to from Pt-rich metal embedded in Ru-rich hydrous and anhydrous oxide. Reduction of the oxide-on metal samples produces a true bimetallic face-centered cubic Pt50Ru50 alloy, with 275 times lower oxidation activity.     

Bimetallic Pd—Pt/γ-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalysts for complete methane oxidation: the effect of the Pt: Pd ratio

Alumina-supported bimetallic Pt—Pd catalysts proved to be more active in the complete oxidation of methane than monometallic systems (Pt/Al₂O₃, Pd/Al₂O₃). The maximum activity of the bimetallic catalysts was achieved at ~40 at.% Pt in Pd on the catalyst surface. After the oxidation reaction, redistribution of platinum and palladium was observed in the active component of the catalysts with the degree of redistribution depending on the initial Pt: Pd ratio.     

In-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of Pt and Ru chemistry during methanol electrooxidation

Methanol electrooxidation in a 0.5 M sulfuric acid electrolyte containing 1.0 M CH3OH was studied on 30% Pt/carbon and 30% PtRu/carbon (Pt/Ru = 1:1) catalysts using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Absorption by Pt and Ru was measured at constant photon energy in the near edge region during linear potential sweeps of 10-50 mV/s between 0.01 and 1.36 V vs rhe. The absorption results were used to follow Pt and Ru oxidation and reduction under transient conditions as well as to monitor Ru dissolution. Both catalysts exhibited higher activity for methanol oxidation at high potential following multiple potential cycles. Correlation of XAS data with the potential sweeps indicates that Pt catalysts lose activity at high potentials due to Pt oxidation. The addition of Ru to Pt accelerates the rate of methanol oxidation at all potentials. Ru is more readily oxidized than Pt, but unlike Pt, its oxidation does not result in a decrease in catalytic activity. PtRu/carbon catalysts underwent significant changes during potential cycling due to Ru loss. Similar current density vs potential results were obtained using the same PtRu/carbon catalyst at the same loading in a membrane electrode assembly half cell with only a Nafion (DuPont) solid electrolyte. The results are interpreted in terms of a bifunctional catalyst mechanism in which Pt surface sites serve to chemisorb and dissociate methanol to protons and carbon monoxide, while Ru surface sites activate water and accelerate the oxidation of the chemisorbed CO intermediate. PtRu/carbon catalysts maintain their activity at very high potentials, which is attributed to the ability of the added Ru to keep Pt present in a reduced state, a necessary requirement for methanol chemisorption and dissociation.     

PtRu/carbon nanotube nanocomposite synthesized in supercritical fluid: a novel electrocatalyst for direct methanol fuel cells

Platinum/ruthenium nanoparticles were decorated on carbon nanotubes (CNT) in supercritical carbon dioxide, and the nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). TEM images show that the particles size is in the range of 5-10 nm, and XRD patterns show a face-centered cubic crystal structure. Methanol electrooxidation in 1 M sulfuric acid electrolyte containing 2 M methanol were studied onPtRu/CNT (Pt, 4.1 wt%; Ru, 2.3 wt%; molar ratio approximately Pt/Ru = 45:55) catalysts using cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. All the electrochemical results show that PtRu/CNT catalysts exhibit high activity for methanol oxidation which resulted from the high surface area of carbon nanotubes and the nanostructure of platinum/ruthenium particles. Compared with Pt/CNT, the onset potential is much lower and the ratio of forward anodic peak current to reverse anodic peak current is much higher for methanol oxidation, which indicates the higher catalytic activity of PtRu/CNT. The presence of Ru with Pt accelerates the rate of methanol oxidation. The results demonstrated the feasibility of processing bimetallic catalysts in supercritical carbon dioxide for fuel cell applications.     

Nanostructure PtRu/MWNTs as anode catalysts prepared in a vacuum for direct methanol oxidation

Platinum and ruthenium nanoparticles that are uniformly dispersed on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were synthesized by vacuum pyrolysis using Pt(acac)2 and Ru(acac)3 as the metal precursors. The resulting nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The Pt, Pt45Ru55, and Ru nanoparticles had mean diameters of 3.0 +/- 0.6, 2.7 +/- 0.6, and 2.5 +/- 0.4 nm and the same mole number as their metal precursors at 500 degrees C. The electrocatalytic activity of the Pt/MWNTs and PtRu/MWNTs was investigated at room temperature by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. All of the electrochemical results showed that the PtRu/MWNTs exhibited a high level of catalytic activity for methanol oxidation as a result of the large surface area of the supporting carbon nanotubes and the wide dispersion of the Pt and Ru nanoparticles. Compared with the Pt/MWNTs, the onset potential for methanol oxidation of the PtRu/MWNTs was significantly lower, and the ratio of the forward anodic peak current to the reverse anodic peak current during methanol oxidation was somewhat higher. The Pt45Ru55/MWNTs displayed the best electrocatalytic activity of all of the carbon-nanotube-supported Pt and PtRu catalysts.