Synthesis,characterization and electrocatalytic activity for ethanol oxidation of carbon supported Pt,Pt–Rh,Pt–SnO2 and Pt–Rh–SnO2 nanoclusters

Nanoclusters of Pt, Pt–Rh, Pt–SnO₂ and Pt–Rh–SnO₂ were successfully synthesized by polyol method and deposited on high-area carbon. HRTEM and XRD analysis revealed two phases in the ternary Pt–Rh–SnO₂/C catalyst: solid solution of Rh in Pt and SnO₂. The activity of Pt–Rh–SnO₂/C for ethanol oxidation was found to be much higher than Pt/C and Pt–Rh/C and also superior to Pt–SnO₂/C. Quasi steady-state measurements at various temperatures (30–60 °C), ethanol concentrations (0.01–1 M) and H₂SO₄ concentrations (0.02–0.5 M) showed that Pt–Rh–SnO₂/C is about 20 times more active than Pt/C in the potential range of interest for the fuel cell application.     

Chemical Reconstruction of Pt-Rh(100) Alloy and Pt/Rh(100), Rh/Pt(100) Bimetallic Surfaces

When Cu(110), Ni(l 10), Ag(110) surfaces are exposed to O₂ at room temperature, one dimensional metal-oxygen strings grow in the < 001 > direction of the (110) surfaces. A similar phenomenon occurs in the adsorption of H₂ on Ni( 110) surface at room temperature, where the one dimensional strings grow along the < 110 > direction. These phenomena are undoubtedly different from the adsorption induced reconstruction but are explained by the chemical reconstruction involving the formation of quasi-compounds and their self-ordering on the metal surfaces. The chemical reconstruction is indispensablly important to understand the structure and catalysis of alloy and bimetallic surfaces. Pt_0.25Rh_0.75(100) alloy surface being active for the reaction of NO with H₂ is an interesting example. When the Pt-Rh(100) alloy surface is exposed to NO or O₂ at arround 500 K, a p(3 × 1) ordered Rh-O over-layer is obtained on a Pt-enriched 2nd layer by the chemical reconstruction. Ordering of Rh-0 in the p(3 × 1) structure on the Pt(100) surface was reproduced by heating a Rh/Pt(100) bimetallic surface in O₂, and the chemical reconstruction making the p(3 × 1) Rh-O overlayer on a Pt enriched 2nd layer was also proved by heating a Pt/Rh(100) bimetallic surface in O₂ or NO. The activation mechanism of the Pt-Rh alloy and the Pt/Rh bimetallic surfaces by the chemical reconstruction was evidently shown by using a Pt deposited Rh(100), Pt/Rh(100), surface. That is, the Pt/Rh(100) is not so active for the reaction of NO with H₂, but the reconstructed p(3 × 1)Rh-O/Pt-layer/Rh(100) surface is very active for the reaction. Therefore, it was concluded that the chemical reconstruction of the Pt-Rh catalyst makes the active surface which is composed of Rh-O and a Pt layer.     

Self-activation of catalyst and functionalization of metal surfaces

Why can solid surfaces promote a variety of chemical reactions? We supposed that active sites or active compounds are formed over the catalyst surface during catalysis or in pretreatment. Three topics are discussed from this viewpoint in this review. The first topic is an activation of inactive MoO_x film to super-active olefin metathesis catalyst, where Mo=CHR sites are prepared on MoO_x. A total mechanism for the productive and the cross metathesis of propene was firstly established on an activated catalyst by using deuterium labeled olefins. In the second topic, a new concept of quasi-compounds is discussed by using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and it is shown that the reaction of quasi-compounds yields (Cu)₆ cluster and (–Cu–O–) strings on Ag(110). In the third topic, a self-activation of Pt–Rh alloy and Pt/Rh bimetallic surfaces during the reaction of NO + H₂ is discussed by using single crystal surfaces. STM image showed that a Pt–Rh(100) surface is activated by reacting with oxygen where a specific array of Pt and Rh atoms is established. Formation of similar active sites on the other crystallographic surfaces is responsible for structure insensitive catalysis of Pt/Rh bimetallic surfaces.     

Study of Pt and Rh based supported catalysts modified with tetrabutyltin for the selective hydrogenation of 4-methoxyacetophenone

Catalysts based on Pt and Rh modified with Sn(C₄H₉)₄ were studied in the hydrogenation of 4-methoxyacetophenone. The selectivity to 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanol was close to 100% at Sn/(Pt,Rh) = 1.0, however the catalytic activity decreased drastically. With respect to the balance between activity and selectivity the catalyst PtSnOM (Sn/Pt=0.4) showed the best performance.     

Determining Magnitude of the Carbon Monoxide Adsorption on Electrodes of Platinum Metals

The possibility of using current transients and open-circuit potential for correctly calculating a double-layer correction for charges spent for electrooxidation of adsorbed carbon monoxide is considered. On the basis of electrochemical measurements of adsorption of CO on electrolytic deposits of Pt and Rh in solutions of H₂SO₄, H₂SO₄ + HCl, and HCl, an estimate of the magnitude of adsorption of CO is performed with allowance made for a correct double-layer correction. The obtained values are compared with similar literature data for smooth Pt and Rh, and possible reasons for the established differences are discussed.     

Correlations between hydrogen electrosorption properties and composition of Pd-noble metal alloys

Hydrogen adsorption on and absorption into Pd alloys with other noble metals was studied in acidic solutions (0.5 M H₂SO₄) using cyclic voltammetry. Correlations were found between the potentials of adsorbed/absorbed hydrogen oxidation peaks and surface/bulk compositions of Pd–Rh alloys. The potential of the α–β-phase transition depends linearly on Pd bulk content in Pd–Au, Pd–Rh, Pd–Pt and Pd–Pt–Rh alloys. The obtained relationships can be utilized for the determination of the composition of homogeneous Pd-noble alloys from hydrogen electrosorption experiments.     

Studies on the Formation of Catalytically Active PGM Nanoparticles from Model Solutions as a Basis for the Recycling of Spent Catalysts

The paper presents basic studies on the precipitation of platinum, palladium, rhodium, and ruthenium nanoparticles from model acidic solutions using sodium borohydride, ascorbic acid, and sodium formate as reducing agents and polyvinylpyrrolidone as a stabilizing agent. The size of the obtained PGM particles after precipitation with NaBH₄ solution does not exceed 55 nm. NaBH₄ is an efficient reducer; the precipitation yields for Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh are 75, 90, 65 and 85%, respectively. By precipitation with ascorbic acid, it is possible to efficiently separate Pt, Rh, and Ru from Pd from the two-component mixtures. The obtained Pt, Pd, and Rh precipitates have the catalytic ability of the catalytic reaction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol. The morphological characteristic of the PGM precipitates was analyzed by AFM, SEM-EDS, and TEM.     

Temporal analysis of products (TAP) study on oxygen storage properties over Pt−Rh/CeO2 catalyst

The oxygen storage capacity of CeO₂, Ce_0.9Pr_0.1O₂, Pt?Rh/CeO₂ and Pt?Rh/Ce_0.9Pr_0.1O₂ was investigated by conventional GC pulse method and transient pulse techniques. It is shown that incorporation of PrO_y into CeO₂ matrix strongly promotes oxygen storage capacity (OSC) measured using the transient pulse technique. The improvement of OSC at low temperature is observed in Pt?Rh loaded onto CeO₂ and Ce?Pr catalysts.     

Influence of tin(II) chloride on the solvent extraction of platinum group metals with N,N-di-n-hexyl-N'-benzoylthiourea

Summary The solvent extraction of Rh(III) and Pt(IV) with N,N-di-n-hexyl-N'-benzoylthiourea (DHBT)/toluene is substantially accelerated in the presence of tin(II) chloride. Low concentrations of SnCl₂ from 0.02 to 0.03 mol/l and metal/ligand ratio of 1:4 (Pt) resp. 1:9 (Rh) lead to low residual metal concentrations below the detection limit of GFAAS. The extraction behaviour of Pt(II), Ru(III) and Ir(III) is not affected by the treatment with SnCl₂.     

FT-IR emission studies of chemisorbed species on supported metal catalysts.

Infrared emission spectra of CO adsorbed on Rh/Al₂O₃ and Pt/Al₂O₃ were studied at 420K. The bands at 2092 and 2031 cm⁻¹ were assigned to symmetric and asymmetric stretching modes of surface Rh(CO)₂ groups, respectively. The RhC stretching modes are expected just below the range of observations (420 cm⁻¹. On Pt/Al₂O₃ the bands at 2043 and 457 cm⁻¹ were assigned to CO and PtC stretching vibrations of Pt-CO surface groups, respectively. Force constant calculations give 17.3 and 16.9 Ncm⁻¹ for CO stretching and 2.55 and 3.53 Ncm⁻¹ for MC stretching on the Rh and Pt catalysts, respectively.     

Preparation and electrocatalytic activity of Rh adlayers on Pt(1 0 0) electrodes: reduction of nitrous oxide

Rhodium adlayers (submonolayer range) have been prepared on Pt(1 0 0) electrodes by electrodeposition from acidic solutions containing an excess of chloride. These Rh/Pt(1 0 0) electrodes give a well-defined voltammetric signal in the hydrogen adsorption region, which gives evidence of a high level of order in the Rh adlayer and allow a reliable estimation of the coverage. The voltammetric behavior of the Rh/Pt(1 0 0) electrodes points to an epitaxial growth with formation of rhodium islands. The well-ordered bimetallic surfaces freshly prepared were tested as electrocatalysts for nitrous oxide reduction and the responses were compared with those of the bulk Pt(1 0 0) and Rh(1 0 0) electrodes. The voltammogram for the bimetallic surface showed well separated N₂O reduction signals for Rh and Pt surface zones. An exceptionally high electrocatalytic activity for the Rh adlayer was found for low coverages. This behavior is explained on the basis of a high activity of the rhodium adatoms in the periphery of the islands.     

Selectivity of the NO+H2 reaction on Pt, Rh and Ir

The selectivity of the NO+H₂ reaction towards N₂ and N₂O was found to vary by more than four orders of magnitude as compared with that on polycrystalline wires and foils of Pt, Rh and Ir. NH₃ is also produced during this reaction. Ir is the most selective catalyst towards N₂ formation, by more than 3 orders of magnitude below 1000 K, as compared to Pt and Rh.     

Structure and reactivity of intermediates. N-overlayer on Pd(100), Rh(100) and Pt-Rh(110) and its reaction with H2

Rh(100), Pt(100), and Pt-Rh(100) surfaces are inert for the dissociative adsorption of N₂, but they are active for the catalytic reaction of NO with H₂ During the reaction on Rh(100) and Pt-Rh(100) surfaces, N atoms are accumulated by making a c(2x2)-N overlayer, but no accumulation of N atoms occurs on Pt(100) surface. The fact that N atoms on the Pt-Rh(100) surface gives the c(2x2) structure indicates that the N atoms have equal affinity to Pt and Rh on the alloy surface. When the c(2x2)-N surface was exposed to H₂ of 10^-7 to 10^-8 Torr, a prominent loss peak being assignable to NH_x appeared at 3200 – 3240 cm^-1 at around 400 K. The in-situ HREELS study proved that NH are prominent species which are formed during the hydrogenation of the c(2x2)-N, that is, a quasi-equilibrium of N + 1/2 H₂ - NH is established. When a clean Pt-Rh(100) (Pt/Rh = 1/3) alloy surface is exposed to NO at about 440 K, the LEED pattern changes sequentially as (1x1) → c(2x2) → c(2x2) + p(3x1) → p(3x1), where the c(2x2) pattern appears instantaneously on the alloy surface of any Pt/Rh ratio but the p(3x1) pattern accompanies a certain characteristic interval times being responsible to the segregation of Rh. The p(3x1) surface reflects the formation of an intermediate of Rh-O complex overlayer and it reacts rapidly with H₂.     

Blocking the defect sites on ultrathin Pt nanowires with Rh atoms to optimize the reaction path toward alcohol fuel oxidation

Anodic electrocatalyst plays the core role in direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs), while traditional Pt-catalysts suffer from limited catalytic activity, high over potential and severe CO poisoning. Herein, by selectively depositing Rh atoms on the defective-sites of Pt nanowires (NWs), we developed a new Pt@Rh NW electrocatalyst that exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic performance for both methanol oxidation (MOR) and ethanol oxidation (EOR). Both cyclic voltammetry (CV) and in-situ infrared spectroscopy revealed that the presence of Rh atoms suppressed the generation of poisonous intermediates and completely oxidized alcohols molecule into CO₂. Atomic resolusion spherical aberration corrected high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (CS-HAADF-STEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping analysis revealed that Rh atoms were primarily deposited on the defective sites of Pt NWs. Meanwhile, the presence of Rh atoms also modified the electronic state of Pt atoms and therefore lowered the onset potential for alcohols oxidation potential. This work gives the first clear clue on the role of the defective sites of Pt nanocatalyst poisoning, and propose that selectively blocking these sites with trace amount of Rh is an effective strategy in designing advantageous electrocatalysts.     

Determination of Ultra-Trace Platinum,Palladium, Ruthenium,Rhodium, and Iridium in Rocks and Minerals by Inductively Coupled–Plasma Mass Spectrometry Following Nickel Sulfide Fire Assay Preconcentration and Open Mixed Acid Digestion

Platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), iridium (Ir), and osmiun (Os) are platinum-group elements with similar physic-chemical properties, and have important applications in geochemistry and environmental chemistry. However, due to their low abundance and inhomogeneous distribution in natural ores as well as the nugget effect, the accurate determination of the platinum-group elements has been a challenge for geological analysis. In this work, self-prepared and purified sodium carbonate (NiCO₃) instead of commercial nickel oxide (NiO) was used as the fire assay collector in order to greatly reduce the reagent blank and method detection limits. In addition, the fuming time of HClO₄ was strictly controlled at 10?min and a high sensitive method was developed for the simultaneous determination of ultra-trace Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, and Ir in minerals by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) following preconcentration with the nickel sulfide fire assay. Under the optimized conditions, the linear ranges of Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, and Ir were between 0 and 100?ng mL^?1, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.9997. The detection limits were 0.015, 0.056, 0.014, 0.004, 0.012?ng mL^?1 (for 10?g sample) for Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh and Ir, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied to analyze Chinese Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) GBW07288, GBW07289, GBW07290, GBW07291, GBW07292, GBW07293, GBW07294, GBW07101, GBW07102 and GBW07201 and the determined values were in good agreement with the certified values. The relative standard deviations (n?=?5) of Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh and Ir were between 3.42% and 6.87% for the determination of GBW07291.     

Rhodium and platinum complexes as catalysts for the polymerization of phenylacetylene

In polymerization reactions of phenylacetylene three different types of polyphenylacetylene (PPA) were prepared by using Rh and Pt complexes as catalysts in different reaction conditions. Type I PPA is obtained with [Rh (COD) Chel] PF₆ complexes (COD = cis,cis-cycloocta 1,5-diene; chel = 2,2′-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) in bulk, benzene methanol, while type II PPA is obtained with the same catalysts in p-dioxane and type III PPA in the presence of [Pt (? C?CPh)₂(PPh₃)₂] in bulk. Type I, II, and III PPA exhibit different IR and ¹H-NMR spectra, which have been compared with literature data. Correlations proposed by different Authors between spectral properties of PPA and chain structures are also discussed.     

The transformations of toluene on alumina and bifunctional catalysts

The activity of Pt, Rh, and Ni catalysts deposited on Al₂O₃ and tungsten-containing catalysts 20% H₄SiW₁₂O₄₀/ZrO₂ and 15% WO_x/ZrO₂ in the hydrogenation of toluene and toluene ring opening and isomerization in the presence of hydrogen was studied. Under experimental conditions (160–360°C, 2.2 MPa), the main reactions on Rh/Al₂O₃ were the hydrogenation of toluene into methylcyclohexane, hydrogenolysis into isoheptanes, and hydrocracking into alkanes C₁–C₆. On Pt, Rh, and Ni catalysts on carriers with strong acid properties, the isomerization of the six-membered into five-membered ring followed by hydrogenolysis (hydrocracking) of alkylcyclopentanes occurred. The yield of heptane isomers, however, did not exceed 13%. The activity of Pt and Rh catalysts on a high-acidity carrier (WO_x/ZrO₂) in hydrocracking was much higher than that of catalysts based on deposited heteropoly acid. The yields of hydrogenolysis (hydrocracking) products on Ni/WO_x/ZrO₂ were much lower than on Pt(Rh)/WO_x/ZrO₂. The highest yield of ring opening products (isoheptanes and n-heptane) was obtained with layered loading of two catalysts; it reached 58 wt % at 300°C and a 2.2 MPa pressure, which was 4.5 and 2 times higher than the yield obtained on Ni-Pt/WO_x/ZrO₂ and 2% Rh/Al₂O₃ catalysts. Hydrodemethylation was not the main direction of toluene transformations on any of the catalysts studied.     

Countercurrent extraction separation of some platinum group metals. part II

Binary mixtures of Pt and Rh, Pt and Ir, Pd and Rh. and Pd and Ir were resolved by a countercurrent extraction technique. The metals were partitioned between an acidic aqueous phase containing potassium thiocyanate and an organic phase, n-tributylphosphate. Distribution coefficients were determined for each metal for a thiocyanate: metal mole ratio of 10 : 1 and 200 : 1 at pH values of 1, 2, 3, and 3.8. Optimum conditions for separations were determined to be a thiocyanate; metal mole ratio of 10 : 1 and a pH of 1. Under these conditions the K_d values tor Pd, Pt, Rh and Ir were 139, 62.3, 0.19 and 0.09 resp. Effective separations were achieved with each binary mixture on a Craig extraction apparatus utilizing less than 10 equilibrium stages. There was a 95% average recovery of each of the metals.     

Nox Reduction Characteristics for Different Composition Ratios of Pt/Al2O3, Rh/Al2O3 Catalyst Mixtures Using Model Gas as Reformates

This study investigated the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) with hydrocarbon in the presence of excess oxygen using various composition ratios of Pt/Al₂O₃, Rh/Al₂O₃ catalyst mixtures. The composition ratios were 1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 1:3 and 3:1 of 1 wt% Pt/Al₂O₃ and Rh/Al₂O₃, which are known to exhibit efficient NO_x reduction at low and high temperatures among the noble metal catalysts. Experiments conducted on a single reductant revealed that more efficient NO_x conversion could be obtained when Pt/Al₂O₃ and Rh/Al₂O₃ were mixed at a ratio of 3:1, rather than 1:1 or 1:3. In a single reductant condition, C₃H₆ 800 ppm (2400 ppmC₁) and 400 ppm (1200 ppmC₁) exhibited 50% and 38% NO_x conversion efficiency at 200°C, respectively. However, NO_x conversion efficiency gradually decreased when temperatures were increased above 250°C. With regard to Pt/Al₂O₃ and Rh/Al₂O₃ ratio, higher ratios of Rh/Al₂O₃ activated this Pt+Rh/Al₂O₃ catalyst in the high temperature range.     

Reduction of NO by Propene Over Pt, Pd and Rh-Based ZSM-5 Under Lean-Burn Conditions

Selective catalytic reduction of NO by propene has been investigated over noble metal (Pt, Pd, Rh)-based ZSM-5 catalysts. These samples were tested in a gas mixture system in the presence of excess oxygen, simulating lean-burn exhaust gases. The sequence in activity for NO reduction was Pt > Rh Pd. Regarding the selectivity of the reaction to N₂, an opposite trend was observed: Rh > Pd Pt. The catalytic systems have presented stable operation under isothermal conditions during time-on-stream experiments.