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.     

Synthesis of colloidal dispersions of rhodium nanoparticles under high temperatures and high pressures

Colloidal dispersions of rhodium (Rh) nanoparticles have been synthesized by the reduction of Rh ions (III) in high-temperature and high-pressure water, ethanol, or water-ethanol mixture under the existence of the protective polymer of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone). The possibility of the regulation of the particle size and size distribution has been tested under several solvents at various temperatures and pressures. At 473 K and 25 MPa, particularly, concentrated colloidal dispersions of Rh particles of 2.5+/-0.5 nm were synthesized from the ionic solution of ethanol ([Rh]=15 mM) within a few seconds. Dilute colloidal dispersions of Rh particles were also synthesized from the dilute ionic solution ([Rh]=1.5 mM) with a diameter of 2.0+/-0.4 nm. From the water solution, Rh particles tended to form aggregates, especially for the lower concentration solution. In the case of solutions in water and ethanol mixture, the average diameter of Rh particles tended to be larger than in ethanol solution, and their distribution became broad.     

Sonochemically prepared platinum-ruthenium bimetallic nanoparticles

Colloidal bimetallic nanoparticles of Pt-Ru have been synthesized by sonochemical reduction of Pt(II) and Ru(III) in aqueous solutions. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images indicate that sequential reduction of the Pt(II) followed by the Ru(III) produces particles with a core shell (Pt@Ru) morphology. In the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS, as a stabilizer, the particles have diameters between 5 and 10 nm. When polyvinyl-2-pyrrolidone, PVP, is used as the stabilizer, the rate of reduction is much faster, giving ultrasmall bimetallic particles of approximately 5 nm diameter.     

Colloidal synthesis and structural control of PtSn bimetallic nanoparticles

PtSn bimetallic nanoparticles with different particle sizes (1-9 nm), metal compositions (Sn content of 10-80 mol %), and organic capping agents (e.g., amine, thiol, carboxylic acid and polymer) were synthesized by colloidal chemistry methods. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements show that, depending on the particle size, the as-prepared bimetallic nanocrystals have quasi-spherical or faceted shapes. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses indicate that for all samples the signals of both Pt and Sn can be detected from single nanoparticles, confirming that the products are actually bimetallic but not only a physical mixture of pure Pt and Sn metal nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were also conducted on the bimetallic particle systems. When compared with the diffraction patterns of monometallic Pt nanoparticles, the bimetallic samples show distinct shifts of the Bragg reflections to lower degrees, which gives clear proof of the alloying of Pt with Sn. However, a quantitative analysis of the lattice parameter shifts indicates that only part of the Sn atoms are incorporated into the alloy nanocrystals. This is consistent with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements that reveal the segregation of Sn at the surfaces of the nanocrystals. Moreover, short PtSn bimetallic nanowires were synthesized by a seed-mediated growth method with amine-capped bimetallic particles as precursors. The resulting nanowires have an average width of 2.3 nm and lengths ranging from 5 to 20 nm.     

Size and composition control of Pt-In nanoparticles prepared by seed-mediated growth using bimetallic seeds

A two-step method has been developed for precise size and composition control of bimetallic Pt-In nanoparticles. Very small (1.62 nm) PtIn seed nanoparticles with 1:1 metal ratio were prepared in the absence of capping agents followed by growth of Pt on their surface in the presence of oleyl amine as reducing and stabilizing agent. Nanoparticles with bulk compositions of Pt(4)In, Pt(3)In, and Pt(2)In could be synthesized with average diameter smaller than 3 nm. TEM, EDX, and XPS provided evidence for homogeneous growth without separate nucleation of pure platinum nanoparticles in the reaction solution. Pt(3)In nanoparticles were deposited onto SiO(2) surface by incipient wetness impregnation. Temperature-induced changes in the particle surface were monitored by in situ IR spectroscopy and CO adsorption. It was found that surface alloy composition of the particles could be tuned by using oxidizing or reducing atmospheres.     

Size-dependent morphology of dealloyed bimetallic catalysts: linking the nano to the macro scale

Chemical dealloying of Pt binary alloy precursors has emerged as a novel and important preparation process for highly active fuel cell catalysts. Dealloying is a selective (electro)chemical leaching of a less noble metal M from a M rich Pt alloy precursor material and has been a familiar subject of macroscale corrosion technology for decades. The atomic processes occurring during the dealloying of nanoscale materials, however, are virtually unexplored and hence poorly understood. Here, we have investigated how the morphology and intraparticle composition depend on the particle size of dealloyed Pt-Co and Pt-Cu alloy nanoparticle precursor catalysts. To examine the size-morphology-composition relation, we used a combination of high-resolutionscanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron energy loss (EEL) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and surface-sensitive cycling voltammetry. Our results indicate the existence of three distinctly different size-dependent morphology regimes in dealloyed Pt-Co and Pt-Cu particle ensembles: (i) The arrangement of Pt shell surrounding a single alloy core ("single core-shell nanoparticles") is exclusively formed by dealloying of particles below a characteristic diameter d(multiple cores) of 10-15 nm. (ii) Above d(multiple cores), nonporous bimetallic core-shell particles dominate and show structures with irregular shaped multiple Co/Cu rich cores ("multiple cores-shell nanoparticles"). (iii) Above the second characteristic diameter d(pores) of about 30 nm, the dealloyed Pt-Co and Pt-Cu particles start to show surface pits and nanoscale pores next to multiple Co/Cu rich cores. This structure prevails up to macroscopic bulklike dealloyed particles with diameter of more than 100 nm. The size-morphology-composition relationships link the nano to the macro scale and provide an insight into the existing material gap of dealloyed nanoparticles and highly porous bulklike bimetallic particles in corrosion science.     

Novel method for the synthesis of hydrophobic Pt-Ru nanoparticles and its application to preparing a Nafion-free anode for the direct methanol fuel cell

Pt-Ru alloy is a bimetallic catalyst most commonly used in the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). In this paper, a new process to synthesize an unsupported Pt-Ru colloid has been introduced. The characteristics of synthesized nanoparticles were identified by XRD, TEM/EDX, and SEM, and it shows that Ru atoms are incorporated into the Pt fcc structure and the well-dispersed particles (diameter approximately 4 nm) possess a Pt-rich feature. This catalyst shows a hydrophobic characteristic which can adsorb very well on the hydrophobic-treated carbon paper or carbon cloth without the need of Nafion. Accordingly, this method can avoid particle agglomeration, and the synthesized catalyst demonstrates strong adsorption with carbon paper. In addition, this colloid-type Nafion-free catalyst was measured via linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and exhibited electrochemical activity for methanol oxidation comparable to the commercial one with Nafion binding.     

Spontaneous formation of core/shell bimetallic nanoparticles: a calorimetric study

We showed recently that low entropy core/shell structured nanoparticles form spontaneously from the physical mixture of a dispersion of Ag nanoparticles and that of another noble metal (Rh, Pd, or Pt) at room temperature. Here we use isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and show that the initial step of such a spontaneous process is strongly exothermic. When the alcohol dispersion of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP)-protected Rh nanoparticles (average diameter 2.3 nm) was titrated into the alcoholic dispersion of PVP-protected Ag nanoparticles, a strong exothermic enthalpy change, DeltaH, was observed: DeltaH = -908 kJ/mol for Ag(S) nanoparticle (average diameter 10.8 nm) and -963 kJ/mol for Ag(L) nanoparticles (average diameter 22.5 nm). The strength of interaction increases in the order of Rh/Ag > Pd/Ag > Pt/Ag. This strong exothermic interaction is considered as a driving force to from low entropy bimetallic nanoparticles by simple mixing of two kinds of monometallic nanoparticles. We show also that exothermic interactions occur between a pair of noble metal nanoparticles themselves by using ITC.     

Effect of Bimetallic Pd/Pt Clusters on the Sensing Properties of Nanocrystalline SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> in the Detection of CO

Nanocrystalline tin dioxide modified by Pd and Pt clusters or by bimetallic PdPt nanoparticles was synthesized. Distribution of the modifers on the SnO₂ surface was studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis with element distribution mapping. It was shown that the Pd/Pt ratio in bimetallic particles varies over a broad range and does not depend on the particle diameter. The effect of platinum metals on the reducibility of nanocrystalline SnO₂ by hydrogen was determined. The sensing properties of the resulting materials towards 6.7 ppm CO in air were estimated in situ by electrical conductivity measurements. The sensor response of SnO₂ modified with bimetallic PdPt particles was a superposition of the signals of samples with Pt and Pd clusters.     

Enhanced electrocatalytic oxygen reduction through electrostatic assembly of Pt nanoparticles onto porous carbon supports from SnCl2-stabilized suspensions

Monodisperse Pt nanoparticles with atomic structures that span the cluster to crystal transition have recently been synthesized in electrostatically stabilized, aqueous-based suspensions. In the present study, the anionic charge from the stabilizing SnCl(2) sheath adsorbed on the surface of these particles is used for the first time to assemble Pt directly onto porous carbon supports via electrostatic assembly. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) reveals that these assemblies have substantially higher Pt-C dispersions than obtained from precipitation methods commonly used for commercial electrocatalyst systems. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are used to determine that loadings of 10-30% by weight Pt (particle packing fractions from 0.05 to 0.25) are obtained through a single electrostatic application of these particles on Vulcan carbon, depending on particle size. The highest average oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) mass activity obtained using this approach is 90.4 A/g(Pt) at 0.9 V vs RHE in 0.1 M perchloric acid is with 1-2 nm particles that exhibit a transitional atomic structure. This activity compares to an average value of 74.0 A/g(Pt) obtained from densely packed electrostatic layer-by-layer (LbL) assemblies of unsupported particles and 36.7 A/g(Pt) commercial Vulcan electrocatalyst from Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo (TKK). Enhanced activity is observed with electrostatic assembly of any particle size on Vulcan relative to unsupported or commercial electrocatalyst with comparable durability. Such enhanced activity is attributed to improved reactant accessibility to the catalyst surface due to the increase in particle dispersion. An extinction coefficient of 7.41 m(2)/g at 352 nm is obtained across the entire cluster to crystal transition from 20 atom clusters to 2.9 nm single crystal nanoparticles, indicating that observed variation in ORR activity with particle size may be associated primarily with changes in atomic surface structure as opposed to the metallic character of the nanoparticles as assessed by UV-vis spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of ruthenium particles by photoreduction in polymer solutions

Colloidal dispersions of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-protected ruthenium (Ru) particles have been synthesized by the photoreduction of Ru(III) ionic solutions in the presence of photo-activator such as benzophenone and benzoin. The size and the structure of the synthesized particles have been extensively investigated by UV-vis, transmission electron micrograph (TEM) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). Metallic Ru particles with an average diameter of 1.3 nm were successfully synthesized in the presence of benzophenone, although mixtures of partly oxidized Ru particles and metallic Ru particles were synthesized in the presence of benzoin. Photoreduction of Ru(III) ionic precursors to Ru atoms was promoted by ketyl radicals, which is more efficiently generated by the photoirradiation of benzophenone than by that of benzoin. The photoirradiation of benzophenone in the Ru(III) ionic solutions is an efficient and convenient method to produce metallic Ru particles in polymer solutions rather than the refluxing and the hydrothermal method of ionic solutions of Ru.     

Preparation of polymer-protected gold/platinum bimetallic clusters and their application to visible light-induced hydrogen evolution

The dispersions of polymer-protected gold/platinum bimetallic clusters were easily and reproducibly prepared by refluxing the mixed solutions of tetrachloroaureic(III) acid and hexachloroplatinic(IV) acid in ethanol/water (1/1) at 90 ∼ 95 °C for 2 h in the presence of a protective polymer such as poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP). The gold/platinum bimetallic clusters thus obtained were very small, well dispersed and very stable. The UV-Vis spectra and the transmission electron micrographs have indicated that each bimetallic particle has an alloy structure consisting of both gold and platinum atoms, and that the surface of the cluster particle is rich in platinum atoms and the inner core in gold atoms. The gold/platinum bimetallic clusters were used as the multi-electron redox catalysts for visible light-induced hydrogen evolution from water. The rate of hydrogen evolution depended on the mole ratio of the gold/platinum bimetallic clusters. The bimetallic clusters at the mole ratio of Au/Pt = 2/3 were the most active catalyst. The in-situ UV-Vis spectra during the reaction have indicated that the order of the aggregation in the two kinds of metal atoms is very important for structure determination of the Au/Pt bimetallic clusters. The protective polymer PVP plays a role not only in protecting hydrophobic colloidal particles in an aqueous solution, but also in determining the metal composition of the cluster surface.     

Formation mechanism of Pt particles by photoreduction of Pt ions in polymer solutions

The formation mechanisms of metal particles (platinum (Pt) particles) in an aqueous ethanol solution of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) by the photoreduction method have been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and in situ and ex situ X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis. The average diameter of the dilute and concentrated Pt particles in the PVP solution is estimated from TEM to be 2.0 and 2.5 nm, respectively. XAFS analysis was performed for the reduction process of Pt4+ ions to metallic Pt particles for the Pt L3 edge of the colloidal dispersions of the concentrated Pt solutions. The photoreduction process proceeds by the following steps: (1) reduction of PtCl6(2-) to PtCl4(2-), (2) dissociation of Cl from PtCl4(2-), followed by reduction of Pt2+ ionic species to Pt0, (3) formation of a Pt0-Pt0 bond and particle growth by the association of Pt0-Pt0. The reduction of PtCl4(2-) to Pt0 is a slower process, compared with the reduction of PtCl6(2-) to PtCl4(2-). There is a delay between the disappearance of PtCl4(2-) and the formation of Pt0-Pt0 clusters.     

Reaction of CO oxidation on platinum,rhodium, a platinum-rhodium alloy,and a heterophase bimetallic platinum/rhodium surface

The reaction of CO oxidation on thin metal films of platinum, rhodium, and their alloy and on a heterophase bimetallic Pt/Rh surface that consisted of platinum particles of size 10–20 nm on the surface of rhodium was studied in the region of low reactant pressures (lower than 2 × 10^?5 mbar). At low temperatures (T < 200°C), the activity of samples increased in the order Rh > Pt/Rh > Pt-Rh alloy > Pt. Above 200°C, the rate of reaction on the heterophase Pt/Rh surface was almost twice as high as the sum of the rates of reaction on the individual metals; this fact is indicative of a synergistic effect. The nature of this effect is considered.     

氧气在不同粒径Pt/C催化剂上的电催化还原

在甲醇溶剂中,利用SnCl2作为还原剂,通过控制反应条件制备了带有不同粒径Pt粒子Pt/C催化剂。X-射线衍射和透射电镜的研究表明获得的Pt/C催化剂中Pt粒子具有高度的均一性和良好的分散度。电化学研究显示,对于氧气的电催化还原,Pt/C催化剂存在着明显的粒径效应。当Pt粒子粒径为3.2 nm时,Pt/C催化剂对氧气的电催化还原的质量比活性最佳。Pt/C催化剂对氧气的粒径效应可能与其表面含氧基团含量、Pt粒子的比表面积及其晶面结构相关。     

氧气在不同粒径Pt/C催化剂上的电催化还原

在甲醇溶剂中,利用SnCl₂作为还原剂,通过控制反应条件制备了带有不同粒径Pt粒子Pt/C催化剂。X-射线衍射和透射电镜的研究表明获得的Pt/C催化剂中Pt粒子具有高度的均一性和良好的分散度。电化学研究显示,对于氧气的电催化还原,Pt/C催化剂存在着明显的粒径效应。当Pt粒子粒径为3.2nm时,Pt/C催化剂对氧气的电催化还原的质量比活性最佳。Pt/C催化剂对氧气的粒径效应可能与其表面含氧基团含量、Pt粒子的比表面积及其晶面结构相关。     

Synthesis of CuCorePtShell Nanoparticles as Model Structures for Core–Shell Electrocatalysts by Direct Platinum Electrodeposition on Copper

The synthesis of Cu(core)Pt(shell) model catalysts by the direct electrochemical deposition of Pt on Cu particles is presented. Cu particles with an average diameter of 200 nm have been deposited on glassy‐carbon electrodes by double pulse electrodeposition from a copper sulfate solution. Subsequent deposition from a platinum nitrate solution under potential control allows for a high selectivity of the Pt deposition towards Cu. Using a combination of cyclic voltammetry, XPS and sputtering, the structure of the generated particles has been analyzed and their core–shell configuration proven. It is shown that the electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction is similar to that of other PtCu catalyst systems. The synthesized structures could allow for the analysis of structure–activity relations of core–shell catalysts on the way to the simple and controlled synthesis of supported Cu(core)Pt(shell) nanoparticles as oxygen reduction catalysts.     

Mono and bi-metallic electrocatalysts of Pt and Ag for oxygen reduction reaction synthesized by sonication

Nanoparticles of Ag, Pt and Pt–Ag were synthesized using ultrasonic irradiation with no consecutive thermal treatment to catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction. Metal nanoparticles are supported on carbon substrate. The synthesized materials were characterized by XRD, TEM, and cyclic and lineal voltammetry techniques. The kinetic formation of the metallic nanoparticles in solution was followed using UV–vis spectroscopy. The metal particles have crystalline structure and particle size with < 10 nm in size and in the form of spherical agglomerates. Ag/C exhibits lower electrochemical activity and stability for the ORR compared to Pt/C and Pt–Ag/C in acid medium. The mass and specific activity results demonstrate that the synthesized bimetallic sample exhibits 1.5 and 5 times greater electrochemical activities for the ORR compared to the commercial sample.     

Surface properties of Ni-Pt/SiO2 catalysts for N2O decomposition and reduction by H2

The surface properties of bimetallic Ni-Pt/SiO2 catalysts with variable Ni/Ni + Pt atomic ratio (0.75, 0.50, and 0.25) were studied using N2O decomposition and N2O reduction by hydrogen reactions as probes. Catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation of the silica support with aqueous solutions of the metal precursors to a total metal loading of 2 wt %. For both model reactions, Pt/SiO2 catalyst was substantially more active than Ni/SiO2 catalyst. Mean particle size by TEM was about the same (in the range 6-8 nm) for all catalysts and truly bimetallic particles (more than 95%) were evidenced by EDS in the Ni-Pt/SiO2 catalysts. CO adsorption on the bimetallic catalysts showed differences in the linear CO absorption band as a function of the Ni/Pt atomic ratio. Bimetallic Ni-Pt/SiO2 catalysts showed, for the N2O decomposition, a catalytic behavior that points out an ensemble-size sensitive behavior for Ni-rich compositions. For the N2O + H2 reaction, the bimetallic catalysts were very active at low temperature. The following activity order at 300 K was observed: Ni75Pt25 > Ni25Pt75 approximately Ni50Pt50 > Pt. TOF values for these catalysts increased 2-5 times compared to the most active reference catalyst (Pt/SiO2). The enhancement of the activity in the Ni75Pt25 bimetallic catalysts is explained in terms of the presence of mixed Ni-Pt ensembles.     

Microwave-assisted polyol synthesis of carbon-supported platinum-based bimetallic catalysts for ethanol oxidation

High surface area carbon-supported Pt, PtRh, and PtSn catalysts were synthesized by microwave-assisted polyol procedure and tested for ethanol oxidation in perchloric acid. The catalysts were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), TEM, and EDX techniques. STM analysis of unsupported catalysts shows that small particles (～2?nm) with a narrow size distribution are obtained. TEM and XRD examinations of supported catalysts revealed an increase in particle size upon deposition on carbon support (diameter?～?3?nm). The diffraction peaks of the bimetallic catalysts in X-ray diffraction patterns are slightly shifted to lower (PtSn/C) or higher (PtRh/C) 2θ values with respect to the corresponding peaks at Pt/C catalyst as a consequence of alloy formation. Oxidation of ethanol is significantly improved at PtSn/C with the onset potential shifted for?～?150?mV to more negative values and the increase of activity for approximately three times in comparison to Pt/C catalyst. This is the lowest onset potential found for ethanol oxidation at PtSn catalysts with a similar composition. Chronoamperometric measurements confirmed that PtSn/C is notably less poisoned than Pt/C catalyst. PtRh/C catalyst exhibited mild enhancement of overall electrochemical reaction in comparison to Pt/C.