Operando 3D Visualization of Migration and Degradation of a Platinum Cathode Catalyst in a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

The three‐dimensional (3D) distribution and oxidation state of a Pt cathode catalyst in a practical membrane electrode assembly (MEA) were visualized in a practical polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) under fuel‐cell operating conditions. Operando 3D computed‐tomography imaging with X‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy (CT‐XANES) clearly revealed the heterogeneous migration and degradation of Pt cathode catalyst in an MEA during accelerated degradation test (ADT) of PEFC. The degradative Pt migration proceeded over the entire cathode catalyst layer and spread to MEA depth direction into the Nafion membrane.     

Mapping Platinum Species in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells by Spatially Resolved XAFS Techniques

There is limited information on the mechanism for platinum oxidation and dissolution in Pt/C cathode catalyst layers of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) under the operating conditions though these issues should be uncovered for the development of next‐generation PEFCs. Pt species in Pt/C cathode catalyst layers are mapped by a XAFS (X‐ray absorption fine structure) method and by a quick‐XAFS(QXAFS) method. Information on the site‐preferential oxidation and leaching of Pt cathode nanoparticles around the cathode boundary and the micro‐crack in degraded PEFCs is provided, which is relevant to the origin and mechanism of PEFC degradation.     

Visualization of Heterogeneous Oxygen Storage Behavior in Platinum‐Supported Cerium‐Zirconium Oxide Three‐Way Catalyst Particles by Hard X‐ray Spectro‐Ptychography

The cerium density and valence in micrometer‐size platinum‐supported cerium–zirconium oxide Pt/Ce₂Zr₂O_x (x=7–8) three‐way catalyst particles were successfully mapped by hard X‐ray spectro‐ptychography (ptychographic‐X‐ray absorption fine structure, XAFS). The analysis of correlation between the Ce density and valence in ptychographic‐XAFS images suggested the existence of several oxidation behaviors in the oxygen storage process in the Ce₂Zr₂O_x particles. Ptychographic‐XAFS will open up the nanoscale chemical imaging and structural analysis of heterogeneous catalysts.     

Visualization of the Heterogeneity of Cerium Oxidation States in Single Pt/Ce2Zr2Ox Catalyst Particles by Nano‐XAFS

The cerium oxidation states in single catalyst particles of Pt/Ce₂Zr₂O_x (x=7 to 8) were investigated by spatially resolved nano X‐ray absorption fine structure (nano‐XAFS) using an X‐ray nanobeam. Differences in the distribution of the Ce oxidation states between Pt/Ce₂Zr₂O_x single particles of different oxygen compositions x were visualized in the obtained two‐dimensional X‐ray fluorescent (XRF) mapping images and the Ce L_III‐edge nano X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (nano‐XANES) spectra.     

SPring‐8 BL36XU: Synchrotron Radiation X‐Ray‐Based Multi‐Analytical Beamline for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells under Operating Conditions

We designed and constructed a beamline BL36XU at the 8 GeV synchrotron radiation facility SPring‐8 to provide information required for the development of next‐generation polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) by clarifying the dynamic aspects of structures and electronic states of cathode catalysts under PEFC operating conditions and in the deterioration processes by accelerated durability test protcols. To investigate the mechanism and degradation process for the cathode electrocatalysis in practical PEFCs, we developed advanced time‐ and spatially‐resolved in‐situ/operando X‐ray absorption fine structure measurement systems and complementary analytical systems (X‐ray emission spectroscopy (XES), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray computer tomography (CT) and hard X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES)) and combined them to develop multi‐analytical systems at BL36XU. Multi‐analytical systems are very powerful for observing spatial‐temporal features of the transient processes occurring in complex systems such as PEFCs. This account describes the design, performance, and research results of the BL36XU and multi‐analytical in‐situ/operando systems.     

Imaging of Oxygen Diffusion in Individual Platinum/Ce2Zr2Ox Catalyst Particles During Oxygen Storage and Release

The spatial distribution of Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ in each particle of Ce₂Zr₂O_x in a three‐way conversion catalyst system was successfully imaged during an oxygen storage/release cycle by scanning X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) using hard X‐ray nanobeams. For the first time, nano‐XAFS imaging visualized and identified the modes of non‐uniform oxygen diffusion from the interface of Pt catalyst and Ce₂Zr₂O_x support and the active parts in individual catalyst particles.     

In Situ Microfocus Chemical Computed Tomography of the Composition of a Single Catalyst Particle During Hydrogenation of Nitrobenzene in the Liquid Phase

Heterogeneous catalysis performed in the liquid phase is an important type of catalytic process which is rarely studied in situ. Using microfocus X‐ray fluorescence and X‐ray diffraction computed tomography (μ‐XRF‐CT, μ‐XRD‐CT) in combination with X‐ray absorption near‐edge spectroscopy (XANES), we have determined the active state of a Mo‐promoted Pt/C catalyst (NanoSelect) for the liquid‐phase hydrogenation of nitrobenzene under standard operating conditions. First, μ‐XRF‐CT and μ‐XRD‐CT reveal the active state of Pt catalyst to be reduced, noncrystalline, and evenly dispersed across the support surface. Second, imaging of the Pt and Mo distribution reveals they are highly stable on the support and not prone to leaching during the reaction. This study demonstrates the ability of chemical computed tomography to image the nature and spatial distribution of catalysts under reaction conditions.     

In situ TREXS Observation of Surface Reduction Reaction of NiO Film with ∼2 nm Surface Sensitivity

X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy is one of the most widely used methods at synchrotron radiation facilities. XAFS gives us information on chemical states and local structures. Fundamentally, XAFS is bulk sensitive, not surface sensitive. If a surface sensitive XAFS method was available, surface chemical reactions can be observed under realistic conditions. Here, we report the development and present status of a type of surface sensitive x‐ray spectroscopy, which is named total reflection x‐ray spectroscopy, TREXS.     

Unsupported Pt‐Ni Aerogels with Enhanced High Current Performance and Durability in Fuel Cell Cathodes

Highly active and durable oxygen reduction catalysts are needed to reduce the costs and enhance the service life of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). This can be accomplished by alloying Pt with a transition metal (for example Ni) and by eliminating the corrodible, carbon‐based catalyst support. However, materials combining both approaches have seldom been implemented in PEFC cathodes. In this work, an unsupported Pt‐Ni alloy nanochain ensemble (aerogel) demonstrates high current PEFC performance commensurate with that of a carbon‐supported benchmark (Pt/C) following optimization of the aerogel's catalyst layer (CL) structure. The latter is accomplished using a soluble filler to shift the CL's pore size distribution towards larger pores which improves reactant and product transport. Chiefly, the optimized PEFC aerogel cathodes display a circa 2.5‐fold larger surface‐specific ORR activity than Pt/C and maintain 90 % of the initial activity after an accelerated stress test (vs. 40 % for Pt/C).     

Structural Elucidation of Selective Solvatochromism in a Responsive‐at‐Metal Cyclometalated Platinum(II) Complex

We report the synthesis, characterization, and spectroscopic investigations of a new responsive‐at‐metal cyclometalated platinum(II) complex. With mild chemical oxidants and reductants, it was possible to obtain the same complex in three different oxidation states and each of these complexes was structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. We discovered that the platinum(II) complex displays strong solvatochromism in the solid state, which can be attributed to modulation of Pt???Pt interactions that results in switching between optical and photoluminescent states. Incorporating responsive‐at‐metal species as dynamic components in nanostructured materials might facilitate response amplification, sensing, actuation, or self‐healing processes.     

Atomically Dispersed Copper–Platinum Dual Sites Alloyed with Palladium Nanorings Catalyze the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Designing highly active catalysts at an atomic scale is required to drive the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Copper–platinum (Cu‐Pt) dual sites were alloyed with palladium nanorings (Pd NRs) containing 1.5 atom % Pt, using atomically dispersed Cu on ultrathin Pd NRs as seeds. The ultrafine structure of atomically dispersed Cu‐Pt dual sites was confirmed with X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements. The Pd/Cu‐Pt NRs exhibit excellent HER properties in acidic solution with an overpotential of only 22.8 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² and a high mass current density of 3002 A g⁻¹_(Pd+Pt) at a −0.05 V potential.     

Pt-Rh/CeZrYLa+LaAl催化剂用于理论空燃比天然气汽车尾气净化

采用共沉淀法制备了CeZrYLa+LaAl纳米复合载体,以三种方法制备了一系列Pt-Rh/CeZrYLa+LaAl催化剂.对所制样品进行了N2吸附-脱附、粉末X射线衍射、X射线光电子能谱和H2程序升温还原的表征.并考察了三种方法所制得催化剂的理论空燃比天然气汽车尾气净化性能.结果表明,三个催化剂的活性顺序为Cat3≈ Cat2> Cat1,其中Cat3具有最低的CO和NO起燃温度(T50),分别为114oC和149 oC,最低的CH4和CO完全转化温度(T90),分别为398 oC和179 oC,以及最佳的CH4和CO温度特性,ΔT (T90–T50)值分别为34 oC和65 oC. Cat2具有最低的CH4起燃温度(342°C)和最低的NO完全转化温度(174°C). Cat1具有最差的转化活性,说明物理混合法制备的催化剂(Cat3和Cat2)性能优于共浸渍法制备的催化剂(Cat1).这是由于物理混合法制备的催化剂, Pt和Rh均匀分散在载体表面,两者物理接触共同参与CH4/CO/NO三种污染物的转化.相反,共浸渍法制备的催化剂, Pt和Rh之间存在较强的相互作用,改变了Pt的电子状态,而且形成了表面Pt富集的Pt-Rh双金属颗粒覆盖了Rh活性位,从而降低催化活性;同时,对于通过物理混合法并进一步添加助剂所制备的Cat3, XRD结果显示助剂Zr4+进入了铈锆固溶体晶格,产生晶格缺陷; XPS结果显示Cat3具有最高的Ce3+/Ce比例.这些都有利于提高催化剂的氧流动性,从而提高催化剂活性并拓宽空燃比窗口.     

用于质子交换膜燃料电池催化剂结构研究的原位XAFS实验方法

依托上海光源的X射线吸收精细结构(XAFS)谱学线站(BL14W1),建立并发展了用于氢-氧质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)原位XAFS实验的测试装置,以Pt/C纳米催化剂作为PEMFC的阴极催化剂, Pd/C作为燃料电池的阳极催化剂,采集在工作状态下的阴极催化剂的XAFS数据,同步监测燃料电池的电流-电压(J-V)曲线和功率密度曲线,观察到Pt/C催化剂在反应过程中不同电位下氧化态的变化,在高电位下Pt/C催化剂的表面存在较强的Pt-O键,降低了Pt/C催化剂的性能.本文同时也验证了我们所建立的实验装置和研究方法的可行性和可靠性.     

Development of Surface Fluorescence X‐Ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy Using a Laue‐Type Monochromator

Surface fluorescence X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy using a Laue‐type monochromator has been developed to acquire structural information about metals with a very low concentrate on a flat highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface in the presence of electrolytes. Generally, surface fluorescence XAFS spectroscopy is hindered by strong scattering from the bulk, which often chokes the pulse counting detector. In this work, we show that a bent crystal Laue analyzer (BCLA) can efficiently remove the scattered X‐rays from the bulk even in the presence of solution. We applied the technique to submonolayer (～10¹⁴ atoms cm^?2) Pt on HOPG and successfully obtained high signal/noise in situ XAFS data in combination with back‐illuminated fluorescence XAFS (BI‐FXAFS) spectroscopy. This technique allows in situ XAFS measurements of flat electrode surfaces to be performed in the presence of electrolytes.     

Chemical Dealloying Mechanism of Bimetallic Pt–Co Nanoparticles and Enhancement of Catalytic Activity toward Oxygen Reduction

The chemical dealloying mechanism of bimetallic Pt–Co nanoparticles (NPs) and enhancement of their electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) have been investigated on a fundamental level by the combination of X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and aberration‐corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Structural parameters, such as coordination numbers, alloy extent, and the unfilled d states of Pt atoms, are derived from the XAS spectra, together with the compositional variation analyzed by line‐scanning energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) on an atomic scale, to gain new insights into the dealloying process of bimetallic Pt–Co NPs. The XAS results on acid‐treated Pt–Co/C NPs reveal that the Co–Co bonding in the bimetallic NPs dissolves first and the remaining morphology gradually transforms to a Pt‐skin structure. From cyclic voltammetry and mass activity measurements, Pt–Co alloy NPs with a Pt‐skin structure significantly enhance the catalytic performance towards the ORR. Further, it is observed that such an imperfect Pt‐skin surface feature will collapse due to the penetration of electrolyte into layers underneath and cause further dissolution of Co and the loss of Pt. The electrocatalytic activity decreases accordingly, if the dealloying process lasts for 4 h. The findings not only demonstrate the importance of appropriate treatment of bimetallic catalysts, but also can be referred to other Pt bimetallic alloys with transition metals.     

Transition‐Metal Nitride Core@Noble‐Metal Shell Nanoparticles as Highly CO Tolerant Catalysts

Core–shell architectures offer an effective way to tune and enhance the properties of noble‐metal catalysts. Herein, we demonstrate the synthesis of Pt shell on titanium tungsten nitride core nanoparticles (Pt/TiWN) by high temperature ammonia nitridation of a parent core–shell carbide material (Pt/TiWC). X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed significant core‐level shifts for Pt shells supported on TiWN cores, corresponding to increased stabilization of the Pt valence d‐states. The modulation of the electronic structure of the Pt shell by the nitride core translated into enhanced CO tolerance during hydrogen electrooxidation in the presence of CO. The ability to control shell coverage and vary the heterometallic composition of the shell and nitride core opens up attractive opportunities to synthesize a broad range of new materials with tunable catalytic properties.     

乙二胺接枝改性碳纳米管负载的乙醇氧化电催化剂Pt及Pt-Ru的制备及电催化性质

采用化学法制备了乙二胺接枝改性碳纳米管（ED/MWNTs）负载的Pt及Pt-Ru催化剂,并用红外光谱法、透射电镜分析（TEM）及X射线能谱技术对催化剂进行了表征。结果表明：乙二胺对碳纳米管的改性使Pt及Pt-Ru在碳管上的分布更均匀,粒径更小。同时,催化剂对乙醇电催化氧化活性的电化学研究结果表明：乙二胺改性可明显提高Pt-Ru/MWNTs/C 和Pt/MWNTs/C的电催化活性,而且Pt/ED/MWNTs/C的活性甚至比Pt-Ru/MWNTs/C的活性还高。由此,ED/MWNTs作为乙醇电氧化催化剂的载体有着很好的应用前景。     

Synthesis of Carbon Quantum Dots Nanoparticles by Cyclic Voltammetry and Its Application as Methanol Tolerant Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalyst

Carbon quantum dot (CQD) nanoparticles are synthesized by one‐step electrochemical method, cyclic voltammetry (CV), at different potentials using graphite rods and NaOH/EtOH as electrolyte. The electro‐chemically manufactured CQD is characterized by Transmission electron microscopy, Ultra violet absorption, X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The morphology and microstructure methods confirm the formation of high quality CQD. Finally, we design a new gas diffusion electrode (GDE) based on CQD pasted on carbon paper for the oxygen reduction reaction at cathode side as methanol tolerance in direct methanol fuel cell and compared it with standard Pt‐C catalysts using cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry. The ORR results in presence of methanol indicate that the GDE prepared from CQD exhibits methanol tolerance compared to the GDE prepared from Pt/C (Electrochem).     

In situ time-resolved XAFS study on the structural transformation and phase separation of Pt3Sn and PtSn alloy nanoparticles on carbon in the oxidation process

The dynamic behavior and kinetics of the structural transformation of supported bimetallic nanoparticle catalysts with synergistic functions in the oxidation process are fundamental issues to understand their unique catalytic properties as well as to regulate the catalytic capability of alloy nanoparticles. The phase separation and structural transformation of Pt(3)Sn/C and PtSn/C catalysts during the oxidation process were characterized by in situ time-resolved energy-dispersive XAFS (DXAFS) and quick XAFS (QXAFS) techniques, which are element-selective spectroscopies, at the Pt L(III)-edge and the Sn K-edge. The time-resolved XAFS techniques provided the kinetics of the change in structures and oxidation states of the bimetallic nanoparticles on carbon surfaces. The kinetic parameters and mechanisms for the oxidation of the Pt(3)Sn/C and PtSn/C catalysts were determined by time-resolved XAFS techniques. The oxidation of Pt to PtO in Pt(3)Sn/C proceeded via two successive processes, while the oxidation of Sn to SnO(2) in Pt(3)Sn/C proceeded as a one step process. The rate constant for the fast Pt oxidation, which was completed in 3 s at 573 K, was the same as that for the Sn oxidation, and the following slow Pt oxidation rate was one fifth of that for the first Pt oxidation process. The rate constant and activation energy for the Sn oxidation in PtSn/C were similar to those for the Sn oxidation in Pt(3)Sn/C. In the PtSn/C, however, it was hard for Pt oxidation to PtO to proceed at 573 K, where Pt oxidation was strongly affected by the quantity of Sn in the alloy nanoparticles due to swift segregation of SnO(2) nanoparticles/layers on the Pt nanoparticles. The mechanisms for the phase separation and structure transformation in the Pt(3)Sn/C and PtSn/C catalysts are also discussed on the basis of the structural kinetics of the catalysts themselves determined by the in situ time-resolved DXAFS and QXAFS.     

Heterogenization of titanium(IV) complexes with amine bis(phenolate) ligands onto SBA‐15: exploring their catalytic epoxidation and electrochemical behaviour

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of titanium catalysts supported onto SBA‐15 via chemical bonding. This was done by first modifying the support with amine bis(phenol) groups as functional linkers and hexamethyldisilizane as capping agent to mask the remaining silanol groups on the silica surface. Finally, titanium tetraisopropoxide was immobilized by reaction with the modified SBA‐15. All the materials were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray fluorescence, nitrogen adsorption‐desorption, Fourier transform infrared, UV‐visible diffuse reflectance and solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies, and solid‐state electrochemical techniques. The titanium materials were tested as cyclohexene epoxidation catalysts. The stability and reusability of the catalysts were also examined using voltammetry measurements. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.