Interaction of platinum nanoparticles with different types of tin dioxide surface: Quantum-chemical modeling

The interaction of Pt₂₉ nanoparticles with pristine and reduced (110), (100), (011), and (001) SnO₂ surfaces has been modeled using the density functional theory method within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). It has been demonstrated that, in some cases, the reduction of the surface leads to a considerable increase in the energy of interaction with platinum. The second oxidation of such structures should lead to the platinum fixation on the surface.     

Methyl orange degradation enhanced by hydrogen spillover onto platinum nanocatalyst surface

Following a thermal reduction method, platinum nanoparticles were synthesized and stabilized by polyvinylpyrrolidone. The colloidal platinum nanoparticles were stable for more than 3 months. The micrograph analysis unveiled that the colloidal platinum nanoparticles were well dispersed with an average size of 2.53 nm. The sol–gel‐based inverse micelle strategy was applied to synthesize mesoporous iron oxide material. The colloidal platinum nanoparticles were deposited on mesoporous iron oxide through the capillary inclusion method. The small‐angle X‐ray scattering analysis indicated that the dimension of platinum nanoparticles deposited on mesoporous iron oxide (Pt‐Fe₂O₃) was 2.64 nm. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data showed that the binding energy on Pt‐Fe₂O₃ surface decreased owing to mesoporous support–nanoparticle interaction. Both colloidal and deposited platinum nanocatalysts improved the degradation of methyl orange under reduction conditions. The activation energy on the deposited platinum nanocatalyst interface (2.66 kJ mol^?1) was significantly lowered compared with the one on the colloidal platinum nanocatalyst interface (40.63 ± 0.53 kJ mol^?1).     

The size effect in the catalytic activity of AgcorePtshell nanoparticles

It has been shown that, in the presence of 6.3-nm silver nanoparticles, platinum is reduced in a K₂PtCl₄-containing aqueous solution after it is saturated with hydrogen. The process yields bimetallic Ag_corePt_shell “core/shell” nanoparticles. Nanoparticles have been synthesized with different silver-to-platinum molar ratios from 9: 1 to 1: 9. Optical spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and electron diffraction data have confirmed the formation of the core/shell nanoparticles. Bimetallic Ag_corePt_shell nanoparticles exhibit the ability to catalyze the reduction of methyl viologen with hydrogen in an alkaline aqueous solution, which is typical of platinum nanoparticles. The existence of a “critical” thickness of the platinum shell below which the catalytic reduction of methyl viologen does not take place has been established. The critical thickness is about 1 nm, which corresponds to approximately two atomic platinum layers on a silver core.     

Highly Dispersed Platinum Nanoparticles on TiO2 Prepared by Using the Microwave‐Assisted Deposition Method: An Efficient Photocatalyst for the Formation of H2 and N2 from Aqueous NH3

A simple and practical technique to synthesize nanosized platinum particles loaded on TiO₂ (Pt–TiO₂) by using a microwave (Mw)‐assisted deposition method has been exploited in the development of a highly efficient photocatalyst for the formation of H₂ and N₂ gases from harmful nitrogen‐containing chemical wastes, for example, aqueous ammonia (NH₃). Upon Mw irradiation, a platinum precursor can be deposited quickly on the TiO₂ surface from an aqueous solution of platinum and subsequent reduction with H₂ affords the nanosized platinum metal particles with a narrow size distribution (Mw‐Pt–TiO₂). Characterization by CO adsorption, platinum L_III‐edge X‐ray absorption fine structure analysis, and TEM analysis revealed that the size of the metal nanoparticles strongly depended on the preparation methods. Smaller platinum nanoparticles were obtained by the Mw heating method than those obtained by conventional preparation techniques, such as photoassisted deposition (PAD), impregnation (Imp), and equilibrium adsorption (EA) deposition by conventional convective heating. The H₂ and N₂ formation rates increased with increasing dispersity of platinum. Pt–TiO₂ prepared by the Mw heating method exhibited a specifically high H₂ formation activity in the photocatalytic decomposition of aqueous NH₃ in a nearly stoichiometric 3:1 (H₂/N₂) molar ratio under inert conditions. The present Mw heating method is applicable to a variety of anatase‐type TiO₂ species possessing different specific surface areas to provide small and highly dispersed platinum nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution.     

Formation of polyaniline/Pt nanoparticle composite films and their electrocatalytic properties

Polyaniline (PANI) thin films modified with platinum nanoparticles have been prepared by several methods, characterised and assessed in terms of electrocatalytic properties. These composite materials have been prepared by the in situ reduction of a platinum salt (K₂PtCl₄) by PANI, in a variety of solvents, resulting in the formation of platinum nanoparticles and clusters of different sizes. The further deposition of platinum clusters at spin cast thin films of PANI/Pt composites from a neutral aqueous solution of K₂PtCl₄ has also been demonstrated. Thin-film electrodes prepared from these materials have been investigated for their electrocatalytic activity by studying hydrazine oxidation and dichromate reduction. The properties of the composite materials have been determined using UV–visible spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The nature of the material formed is strongly dependent on the solvent used to dissolve PANI, the method of preparation of the PANI/Pt solution and the composition of the spin cast thin film before subsequent deposition of platinum from the aqueous solution of K₂PtCl₄.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Alan Bond on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Platinum nanoparticles on different types of titanium dioxide surface: A quantum-chemical modeling

The interaction of a Pt₂₉ nanoparticle with pristine and reduced TiO₂ (110), (100), (101), and (100) surfaces in the rutile and anatase modifications has been modeled by the density functional theory method within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). It has been demonstrated that the interaction energy of platinum particles with stoichiometric surfaces of titanium dioxide crystals is noticeably lower than for tin dioxide crystals. Like for SnO₂, the reduction of the surface leads in some cases to a significant increase in the energy of interaction with platinum. The reoxidation of such structures should result in platinum fixation on the surface.     

Effect of titanium,antimony, and ruthenium doping on tin dioxide adsorption properties. Quantum-chemical modeling

The influence of the composition of oxides supports on the specific electroactive surface area of Pt in the catalysts, the platinum nanoparticles dispersion, and Pt contents in the catalysts was studied. The Sb-doped SnO₂ oxides with various Sb-doping levels were prepared as a supports of platinum catalysts in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Density functional theory simulation of Ti, Sb, and Ru doping of tin dioxide and interaction of the doped surfaces with platinum cluster Pt₁₉ have been carried out. All calculations were performed in PBE exchange–correlation functional, with periodic boundary conditions and projector-augmented waves (PAW) basis set. The calculation results were compared with the experimental data X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was shown that Sb doping of tin dioxide (in quantity of less than 10%, that is, the quantity which cannot provoke significant defects of crystal structure of the supports) leads to a significant increase in a number of platinum clusters adsorbed from the colloidal solution onto the supports surface which results to an increase of the platinum cluster interaction with the supports. The calculated and experimental results are in close fit.     

Synthesis of Pt3Ni-based functionalized MWCNTs to enhance electrocatalysis for PEM fuel cells

Nanoscale Pt₃Ni/functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (FMWCNTs) catalysts, successfully synthesized by anchoring nickel–platinum alloy nanoparticles on FMWCNTs, are presented in this paper. Compared with conventional commercial Pt/C catalysts, the preliminary results revealed that the Pt₃Ni/FMWCNTs catalysts demonstrated not only higher specific activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) but also outstanding stability. The enhancement in the stability of the Pt₃Ni/FMWCNTs catalysts is believed to be due to the anchor effects in Pt₃Ni alloy structure, the stronger interaction between Pt₃Ni alloy nanoparticles and FMWCNTs, and the “π sites” anchoring centers for metal nanoparticles from CNTs with high graphite.     

An XPS study of the oxidation of noble metal particles evaporated onto the surface of an oxide support in their reaction with NO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

The interaction of the model catalysts Rh/Al₂O₃, Pd/Al₂O₃, Pt/Al₂O₃, and Pt/SiO₂ with NO _x (mixture of 10 Torr of NO and 10 Torr of O₂) was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Samples of the model catalysts were prepared under vacuum conditions as oxide films ≥100 Å in thickness on tantalum foil with evaporated platinum-group metal particles. According to transmission electron microscopic data, the platinum-group metal particle size was several nanometers. It was found by XPS that the oxidation of Rh and Pd nanoparticles in their interaction with NO _x occurs already at room temperature. The particles of platinum were more stable: their oxidation under the action of NO _x was observed at elevated temperatures of ～300°C. At room temperature, the interaction of platinum nanoparticles with NO _x hypothetically leads to the dissolution (insertion) of oxygen atoms in the bulk of the particles with the retention of their metallic nature. It was found that dissolved oxygen is much more readily reducible by hydrogen than the lattice oxygen of the platinum oxide particles.     

Oxidation of a platinum foil with nitrogen dioxide

The oxidation of a polycrystalline platinum foil by nitrogen dioxide at an NO₂ pressures of 10^–6–10^–4 mbar and a temperature of 525 K has been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Under these conditions, the platinum oxides PtO and Pt₃O₄ form on the foil surface. A comparison between the data obtained in this study and the data on the oxidation of platinum nanoparticles suggests a hypothesis as to the causes of the size effect in the oxidation of NO over platinum catalysts.     

Synthesis and properties of ms- and β-substituted Pt(II) and Pt(IV) tetraphenylporphyrinates

The interaction of 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin, 5,10,15,20-tetra-(4-chlorophenyl)porphyrin, 2-bromo-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin, and 2,3,12,13-tetrabromo-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin with platinum(II) chloride in boiling phenol has been studied. The corresponding platinum(II) porphyrinates have been synthesized; their subsequent treatment with bromine in chloroform resulted in platinum(IV) porphyrinates. The Pt(II) and Pt(IV)(Br)₂ porphyrinates have been identified by elemental analysis, electron absorption, IR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Platinum state in highly active Pt/CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalysts from the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data

The states of components of highly efficient Pt/CeO₂ catalysts for low-temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide are studied in detail by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Using the precise calibration of the spectra relative to the internal standard and the fitting of Ce3d and Pt4f spectra by elementary doublets, we found the features of the platinum interaction with the ceria lattice. It is shown that when the codeposition technique is used, depending on the quality of stock solutions, it is possible to obtain both homogeneous solid solutions of platinum in the ceria lattice and solutions containing polyatomic platinum associates of the (PtO) _m type. It is found that when homogeneous PtCeO _x solid solutions are stored in air at room temperature, the homogeneous solutions slowly pass into the state of solutions with platinum associates. Mechanical mixtures of metallic platinum and ceria nanoparticles, synthesized by laser ablation, were also investigated in the course of their annealing in the air. The results obtained from the Pt4f spectra completely confirm the specific features of the interaction of platinum with ceria.     

Enhanced Anodic Electrochemiluminescence of Dissolved Oxygen with 2‐(Dibutylamino) ethanol at TiO2 Nanoparticles Modified Platinum Electrode for Dopamine Detection

The anodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of dissolved oxygen with 2‐(dibutylamino) ethanol (DBAE) on platinum electrode has been reported previously by our group. Interestingly, the ECL intensity can be greatly amplified at TiO₂ nanoparticles modified platinum electrode (TiO₂/Pt), which is due to the catalytic effect of TiO₂ nanoparticles to electrochemical oxidation of DBAE. It is the first case to obtain the enhanced ECL from luminophor by electrochemical catalysis of co‐reactant. The enhanced anodic ECL intensity can be quenched by dopamine sensitively. And the ECL intensity versus the logarithm of concentration of dopamine was linear over the 4.0×10^?12–1.8×10^?8 M (R²=0.9957), with the limit of detection of 2.7×10^?12 M (S/N=3).     

Role of the Platinum Nanoclusters in the Iodide/Triiodide Redox System of Dye Solar Cells

The publication covers materials and cluster science aspects of the platinum counter electrode (CE) in the “monolithic type” dye sensitized solar cell systems (DSSC). Nanocluster based catalytic platinum layers are utilized for the iodide/triiodide reduction in different electrolytes. Various preparative methods have been applied for the preparation of platinum nanoparticles for the CE. The structure, properties, and performance of the different nanoparticles obtained by thermal decomposition of H₂PtCl₆, triorganohydroborate reduction of a platinum salt, reductive stabilization of Pt(acac)₂ by trialkylaluminium, the “polyol method”, and the reduction of the H₂PtCl₆ by hydrogen are compared. The oxidation states of the platinum surface- and core-atoms were analyzed by X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) respectively. Size and the crystalline structure of the particles were investigated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The charge transfer resistance of the different catalytic platinum layers resulted from the above mentioned preparative methods, was compared by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Dedicated to Prof. Günter Schmid on the occasion of 70th anniversary     

Pyrolysis of chloroplatinic acid to directly immobilize platinum nanoparticles onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Platinum nanoparticles supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Pt/MWCNTs) were first prepared by simple pyrolysis of H₂PtCl₆ solution. The structure of Pt/MWCNTs was characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the results showed that the diameter of the obtained platinum nanoparticles immobilized on MWCNTs was below 50 nm, although the obtained platinum nanoparticles were not well uniformly dispersed on the surface of MWCNTs. The electrocatalytic performance of Pt/MWCNTs electrode for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) was also investigated by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), indicating that it was possible to employ the obtained platinum nanoparticles as anode material in fuel cell. Developing a novel and simple method to prepare platinum nanoparticles onto MWCNTs is the main contribution of this letter. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 44, No. 8, pp. 1050–1053. The text was submitted the authors in English.     

Activation of Elemental Sulfur at a Two‐Coordinate Platinum(0) Center

Platinum dichalcogenides have been known to exhibit two‐dimensional layered structures. Herein, we describe the syntheses, isolation, and characterization of air‐stable crystalline cyclic alkyl(amino) carbene (cAAC)‐supported monomeric platinum disulfide three‐membered ring complex [(cAAC)₂Pt(S₂)] ( 2 ). The highly reactive platinum(0) [(cAAC)₂Pt] complex ( 1 ) with two‐coordinate platinum activates elemental sulfur to give 2 . The brown crystals of bis‐carbene platinum(II)monosulfate [(cAAC)₂Pt(SO₄)_x(S₂)_1?x] ( 4 ) have been isolated when the reaction was performed in air. The dioxygen analogue of 2 was formed upon exposing the THF solution of 1 to aerial oxygen (O₂). The binding of oxygen at the Pt⁰ center was found to be reversible. Additionally, DFT study has been performed to elucidate the electronic structure and bonding scenario of 2 , 3 , and 4 . Quantum chemical calculations showed donor–acceptor‐type interaction for the Pt?S bonds in 2 and Pt?O bonds in 3 and 4 .     

Platinum nanoparticle catalysed coupling of phenol derivatives with 4-aminoantipyrine in aqueous medium

The oxidative coupling of phenols with 4-aminoantipyrine (AmNH₂) has been studied by UV–visible spectroscopy using platinum nanoparticles as catalyst. The rate of antipyrilquinoneimine dye formation depends on the nature of substrates, temperature, pH, and the use of microheterogeneous media such as sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS), cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and Triton X-100 (TX-100). The reactivity trend observed for differently substituted phenols follows the order: 3,5-dimethylphenol > phenol > o-chlorophenol > o-nitrophenol. The rate of dye formation is greater at acid pH than at basic pH and the optimum pH is 5.4. A reaction pathway is proposed, involving the activation of o-chlorophenol with AmNH₂ by metal nanoparticles and concomitant reactions of free radicals. Transmission electron microscopy results show that the particle size is 20 nm for the platinum nanoparticles involved in catalysis. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Hybrid platinum nanoparticle ensemble for the electrocatalytic oxidation of H2O2: Toward nanostructured biosensor design

This paper reports the electrocatalysis of H₂O₂ oxidation by Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) thin films based on polymer-grafted platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs). 4-mercaptoaniline-functionalized PtNPs have been chemically modified to obtain poly(methacrylic acid)-grafted platinum nanoparticles (PMAA-PtNP) via surface-ATRP. These elementary bricks are used to form mixed LB films consisting of controlled mixtures of PMAA-PtNP and a redox-inactive fatty acid molecule to tune the PtNP surface density. Nanostructures are formed in which the number of layers and the number of particles in each layer may be varied. The nanostructure morphology strongly depends on the amount of PtNP. High Pt content leads to quite large nanoparticle domains whereas low content gives small domains with a finely divided nanostructure. The H₂O₂ oxidation current increases when the PMAA-PtNP surface density decreases. This result is discussed in terms of electrocatalyst accessibility modification related to the nanostructure of the films.     

Size effect in the oxidation of platinum nanoparticles on graphite with nitrogen dioxide: An XPS and STM study

The interaction of NO₂ with model catalysts prepared by platinum evaporation onto the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite has been investigated at room temperature and a pressure of 3 × 10^?6 Torr by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. In the catalyst containing only small (<2.5 nm) platinum particles, these particles oxidize to PtO and PtO₂. The action of NO₂ on the graphite support and on the graphite-supported Pt catalyst causes graphite oxidation. The oxygen concentration in the model catalyst is higher than on the support. This is supposed to be due to the spillover of oxygen atoms from platinum particles to graphite.     

Introduction of Ketamine as a G‐Quadruplex‐Binding Ligand Using Platinum Nanoparticle Modified Carbon Paste Electrode

We designed an electrochemical platform by modifying a carbon paste electrode (CPE) with platinum nanoparticles to study the interaction between ketamine and the G‐quadruplex structure of human telomeric DNA (G₄HTD). The drug ketamine (Kt) was used as the model ligand and its ability for stabilizing the G‐quadruplex structure was examined. The modified CPE (NPtCPE) was characterized by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The interaction of Kt with G₄HTD was studied by DPV and the DPV current decreased with increasing Kt concentration. The results from UV‐vis and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy showed a prominent intercalation mode between G₄HTD and Kt.