Synthesis of periodic hexagonal surfactant templated platinum tin tellurides: narrow band gap inorganic/organic composites

In this work we report the synthesis and characterization of a new nanostructured platinum/tin/telluride inorganic/surfactant composite. The material is synthesized from soluble SnTe(4)(4-) clusters and is shown to have well-defined nanometer scale periodicity along with unique optical properties. Small-angle X-ray scattering indicates that the material forms with a 2D hexagonal honeycomb structure, which is size tunable based on surfactant tail length. Multinuclear EXAFS is used as a probe of local order in these materials. The results indicate that the tetrahedral SnTe(4) unit dimerizes during assembly, and these clusters are coordinated to square planar platinum ions. Near-IR/visible reflectance spectroscopy indicates that the material is a narrow band gap semiconductor with a band gap of 0.8 eV. The extension of the ideas of surfactant templating to a narrow band gap semiconductor opens up the exciting potential for future optoelectronic applications.     

Tuning the band gap in hybrid tin iodide perovskite semiconductors using structural templating

Structural distortions within the extensive family of organic/inorganic hybrid tin iodide perovskite semiconductors are correlated with their experimental exciton energies and calculated band gaps. The extent of the in- and out-of-plane angular distortion of the SnI4(2-) perovskite sheets is largely determined by the relative charge density and steric requirements of the organic cations. Variation of the in-plane Sn-I-Sn bond angle was demonstrated to have the greatest impact on the tuning of the band gap, and the equatorial Sn-I bond distances have a significant secondary influence. Extended Hückel tight-binding band calculations are employed to decipher the crystal orbital origins of the structural effects that fine-tune the band structure. The calculations suggest that it may be possible to tune the band gap by as much as 1 eV using the templating influence of the organic cation.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol onto platinum particles decorated nanostructured poly (1,5-diaminonaphthalene) film

In this work, platinum particles decorated nanostructured poly (1,5-diaminonaphthalene) modified glassy carbon electrode (Pt/Nano-PDAN/MGCE) is prepared. The composite catalysts are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and electrochemical methods. The electrochemical methanol oxidation reaction is studied at the surface of this modified electrode. At same Pt loading, the Pt/Nano-PDAN/MGCE can act as higher efficient catalyst for methanol oxidation than that Pt/MGCE. Then, the influence of some parameters such as potential scan rates, switching potential, and methanol concentration on its oxidation as well as long-term stability of the modified electrode have studied by electrochemical methods. Also, ability of the modified electrode toward electrocatalytic oxidation of formaldehyde as an intermediate in methanol oxidation has been investigated.     

Selected properties of Pt(111) modified surfaces: A DFT study

Density functional theory calculations were employed to investigate the electronic properties of a Pt(111) surface modified with foreign atoms. The effects of alloying platinum with molybdenum, palladium, and tin changed the interaction between adsorbate orbital and metal d band. This letter discusses the interaction between metal atoms and adsorbate and its influence on electronic structure rearrangement of the species—changes that must be taken into account to explain the behavior of catalytic systems and sensors. Mo/Pt(111) and Sn/Pt(111) exhibited lower susceptibility to poisoning by CO, compared with pure platinum. Both Pt-based materials are expected to find utility in electrodes for alcohol and hydrogen oxidation.     

Influence of tin on the oxidation of methanol on a platinum electrode

The influence of adsorbed tin and tin(IV) ions on the oxidation of methanol chemisorbed species as well as the methanol from the bulk of the solution was studied on a Pt electrode by voltammetric and radiometric methods. It was found that tin is not adsorbed as an ad-atom but rather as a divalent ion. Enhancement of the electrocatalytic oxidation of chemisorbed species derived from methanol was observed only in the potential range from 0.4 to 0.8 V. The influence of some factors on the electrocatalytic properties of platinum is discussed.     

Electro-deposition of platinum nanoparticles on 4-mercaptobenzene-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes

A new method to electro-deposit platinum nanoparticles on the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) functionalized with 4-mercaptobenzene has been described. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results reveal that 4-mercaptobenzene was attached to the surface of MWNTs. Transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffraction analysis confirm that platinum nanoparticles were highly dispersed on the surface of MWNTs, and the average size of the platinum particle is 4.2 nm. The electrocatalytic properties of the Pt/MWNT composite electrode for methanol oxidation were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, and the results show that the fabricated composites exhibit high catalytic activity and good long-term stability. The study provides a feasible approach to fabricate Pt/MWNT composite electrode for direct methanol fuel cell.     

Platinum Electrocatalysts Deposited onto Composite Carbon Black–Metal Oxide Support

Russian Journal of Electrochemistry - New nanostructured Pt/(SnO2/C)-electrocatalyst (20 wt % Pt) is synthesized via platinum chemical deposited onto composite SnO2/C-support microparticles (4 wt %...     

Periodic hexagonal mesostructured chalcogenides based on platinum and [SnSe4]4- and [SnTe4]4- precursors. Solvent dependence of nanopore and wall organization

Mesostructured chalcogenide-based materials with long-range order and semiconducting properties can be prepared using suitable molecular building blocks, linkage metal ions and surfactant molecules. In this paper we present surfactant templated, open framework platinum tin selenide and telluride materials assembled using K4SnQ4 (Q = Se, Te) salts and K2PtCl4 as precursors and a study of pore and wall organization. We find that materials prepared in water exhibit disordered pore organization, whereas those prepared in formamide are long-range ordered with hexagonal symmetry. In formamide the [SnQ4]4- anions undergo condensation-oligomerization reactions that produce different chalcogenido molecular species, whereas in water the anions remain intact. In addition to solvent, the pore organization and overall quality of the mesostructured materials strongly depend on the surfactant molecules, i.e., chain length and headgroup size. For example, highly ordered mesostructured platinum tin selenides with hexagonal symmetry were obtained using the hydroxyl-functionalized surfactants CnH2n+1N(CH3)(CH2CH2OH)2Br (n = 16, 18, and 20), but when the headgroup was triethylammonium, hexagonal pore order was achieved only for n = 20 and not for n = 16 and 18. The experimental results imply that in order to achieve highly ordered chalcogenide frameworks a single building anionic block might be insufficient. Finally, we also report the first examples of hexagonal mesostructured Pt/Sn/Te materials based on K4SnTe4 as the precursor. The tellurides behave differently for their selenium analogues and have very low energy band gaps, in the range 0.5-0.7 eV.     

Investigation of redox properties of different PtSn/Al2O3 catalysts.

Alumina-supported Sn and PtSn particles are studied by 119Sn M?ssbauer spectroscopy after oxidation and reduction under various conditions. The observed species of Sn(IV), Sn(II) and Sn(0) are grouped in several categories, each being characterised by distinct structural properties. Tin phases in contact with the support or with platinum are identified. The results are used to establish a model describing the phase transformations occurring in PtSn particles under oxidising or reducing conditions. Particular attention is paid to the reduction/reoxidation mechanisms governing H2/O2 double titrations. An increased reactivity of tin towards oxygen, induced by the contact with platinum, is demonstrated. It is shown that tin contributes to the oxygen uptake VO1 of a first titration cycle by platinum-catalysed transformation of Sn(II) into an oxometallic phase Pt(x)Sn(O). The oxygen titre VO2 of a second cycle is due to O2 chemisorption on platinum only.     

甲醇在欠电位沉积Sn/Pt电极上催化氧化

在欠电位沉积（upd）锡修饰的铂电极（upd-Sn/Pt）上,对甲醇电化学催化氧化过程进行了研究.发现当Pt表面upd-Sn的覆盖率在20％附近时,对甲醇的催化氧化的增强作用最为明显；在电位低于0.35 V （vs RHE）时,甲醇在Pt与upd-Sn/Pt电极上氧化只进行到脱氢生成CO的步骤;在0.35 V以后,表面Sn－OH形成,反应Sn－OH＋COads=Sn＋CO2＋H＋＋e有利于表面CO的去除;而Pt电极上,只有0.6 V以后,才有反应Pt－OH＋COads=Pt＋CO2＋H＋＋e发生.因此,Sn的存在有利于甲醇在较低的电位下氧化; Pt电极上CH3OH脱氢并释放出电子的过程是一个快速的过程,表面CO的去除是甲醇氧化过程的控制步骤;甲醇氧化产生的表面吸附态CO 以线式吸附为主,少量的桥式吸附态CO在反应初期即达到吸附饱和; Pt表面上upd-Sn表现的催化增强作用,在光亮铂电极和在高分散铂黑电极上是一致的.     

Size-controlled synthesis of colloidal platinum nanoparticles and their activity for the electrocatalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide

Using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizing agent, stable colloidal solutions of platinum nanoparticles of different size distributions have been prepared by reducing H2PtCl6 with hydrogen. The UV-vis adsorption peaks at 258 nm due to the adsorption of Pt(IV) species disappear completely, indicating that the Pt(IV) species has been used up and colloidal Pt has been formed. The electrodes have been prepared from aqueous Pt colloids and glassy carbon (GC). The effect of platinum particle size of Pt/GC catalyst electrode on the electrocatalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide has been investigated. The voltammetry shows that a higher potential is needed for the oxidation of absorbed carbon monoxide with a decrease of the platinum particle size for particle sizes larger than 1 nm. But for particle sizes smaller than 1 nm, the potential remains constant while the activity decreases with decreasing the size. The snowlike, well-dispersed, and highly ordered platinum nanoparticles demonstrate high activity in the oxidation reaction of carbon monoxide. The reason may be due to the geometric structure of platinum nanoparticles.     

Platinum nanoparticles coated by graphene layers: A low-metal loading catalyst for methanol oxidation in alkaline media

Platinum catalysts play a major role in the large scale commercialization of direct methanol fuel cells(DMFC). Here, we present a procedure to create a nanostructural graphene-platinum(Gr Pt) composite containing a small amount(5.3 wt%) of platinum nanoparticles coated with at least four layers of graphene. The composite, as Gr Pt ink, was deposited on a glassy carbon electrode and its electrocatalytic activity in a methanol oxidation reaction(MOR) was evaluated in a 1 M CH_3 OH/1 M Na OH solution. The results indicated an enhanced catalytic performance of Gr Pt towards MOR in alkaline media compared with the Pt/C material. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(recorded before and after the electrochemical assays) were employed to analyze the changes in the chemical composition of the nanomaterial and to explain the transformations that took place at the electrode surface.Our findings suggest that growing of graphene on platinum nanoparticles improve the catalytic performance of platinum-graphene composites towards MOR in alkaline media.     

Dynamical valence fluctuation at the charge-density-wave phase boundary in iodide-bridged Pt compound [Pt(chxn)2I]I2

We synthesized a novel iodo-bridged linear chain platinum compound, having the quasi-two-dimensional charge-density-wave (CDW) ground state and the smallest band gap. In this compound, we discovered an anomalous valence state in the boundary region at which the CDW phase alternates in the crystal by means of ESR, X-ray diffuse scattering, STM, and electrical resistivity. This anomalous state can be explained by the fast fluctuation between Pt(IV)-I...Pt(II) and Pt(II)...I-Pt(IV) in the double well potential. This is the first observation of the dynamical fluctuation of the CDW phase among the quasi one-dimensional halogen-bridged complexes.     

Electrooxidation of methanol on upd-Ru and upd-Sn modified Pt electrodes

The electrochemical oxidation of methanol has been investigated on underpotentially deposited-ruthenium-modified platinum electrode (upd-Ru/Pt) and on underpotentially deposited-tin-modified platinum electrode (upd-Sn/Pt). The submonolayers of upd-Ru and upd-Sn on a Pt electrode increased the rate of methanol electrooxidation several times as large as that on a pure Pt electrode. The best performance for methanol electrooxidation was obtained on a ternary platinum based catalyst modified by upd-Ru and upd-Sn simultaneously. The influence of the submonolayers of upd-Ru adatoms and upd-Sn adatoms on the oxidation of methanol in acid has been investigated. The effect of Ru on methanol electrooxidation lies on the distribution of Ru adatoms on a Pt surface. It has been shown that as long as the amount of upd-Ru deposits were controlled in a proper range, upd-Ru deposits would enhance the methanol oxidation obtained on a Pt electrode at whichever deposition potential the upd-Ru deposits were obtained. The effects of tin are sensible to the potential range. The enhancement effect of upd-Sn adatoms for the oxidation of methanol will disappear as the electrode potential is beyond a certain value. It is speculated that there exists a synergetic effect on the Pt electrode as adatoms Ru and Sn participate simultaneously in the methanol oxidation.     

A visible light photocatalyst: effects of vanadium substitution on ETS-10

Hybrid density functional theory/molecular mechanics (DFT/MM) methods have been used to investigate the effects of vanadium substitution in ETS-10. Models have been developed to contain varying concentrations of V(IV) and V(V) within the O-M-O (M = Ti, V) chain. Most of the V-substituted models have a localized mid-gap state. The occupation of this localized state depends upon the dopant oxidation state, leading to the addition of multiple low energy transitions. A linear correlation has been identified between band gap energies estimated using ground state orbital energies and those calculated using the more accurate and computationally demanding time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) method for a variety of transition metal substituted models of ETS-10. Consistent with experimental data for V substitution, our models predict a decrease in the optical band gap with increasing [V], due to a lowering of the delocalized d-orbital states at the bottom of the conduction band with increasing V d-orbital character. This effect is more pronounced in the case of V(V) substitution than V(IV). Excitation energies for the V-doped models, calculated with TDDFT methods correlate well with experimental data, allowing for the assignment of specific optical transitions to experimental UV-Vis spectra. The electronic structure of V-substituted ETS-10 at high V concentration demonstrates band gap energies within the visible range of the spectrum. Additionally, at high [V] the band gap energy and presence of low energy electron traps can be controlled by the relative concentration of V(IV) and V(V) along the O-M-O chain, establishing V-substituted ETS-10 as a promising visible light photocatalyst.     

Synthesis and characterization of tin telluride inorganic/organic composite materials with nanoscale periodicity through solution-phase self-assembly: a new class of composite materials based on Zintl cluster self-oligomerization

In this work, we demonstrate the synthesis of semiconducting tin telluride inorganic/organic composite materials with nanoscale periodicity prepared using solution phase self-assembly. Oligomerization of anionic SnTe ₄ ^4? clusters by halogen-mediated tellurium elimination in the presence of surfactant leads to the formation of a meosotructured composite. The composites initially forms as a mixture of mesophases, usually some combination of a layered phase and a phase based on cylindrical building blocks. Post synthetic treatment leads to a solid-state structural change which converts the composites to a single mesophase architecture with a hexagonal honeycomb (p6mm) morphology on the nanometer length scale. A by product of this reaction, however, is bulk tellurium. Changes in the electronic structure of the materials during synthesis and solid-state restructuring are probed using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy.     

Alloyed semiconductor quantum dots: tuning the optical properties without changing the particle size

Alloyed semiconductor quantum dots (cadmium selenium telluride) with both homogeneous and gradient internal structures have been prepared to achieve continuous tuning of the optical properties without changing the particle size. Our results demonstrate that composition and internal structure are two important parameters that can be used to tune the optical and electronic properties of multicomponent, alloyed quantum dots. A surprising finding is a nonlinear relationship between the composition and the absorption/emission energies, leading to new properties not obtainable from the parent binary systems. With red-shifted light emission up to 850 nm and quantum yields up to 60%, this new class of alloyed quantum dots opens new possibilities in band gap engineering and in developing near-infrared fluorescent probes for in vivo molecular imaging and biomarker detection.     

Ultimate Corrosion to Pt-Cu Electrocatalysts for Enhancing Methanol Oxidation Activity and Stability in Acidic Media

Alloying platinum (Pt) with transition metals (M), as an established class of electrocatalysts, reduces the use of Pt and improves the electrocatalytic performance. However, the stability of transition metals in nanostructured platinum alloys is a fundamental and practical problem in electrocatalysis, due to leaching of transition metals under acidic operating condition. Here, a corrosion method has been developed for a Pt−Cu electrocatalyst with high activity (6.6 times that of commercial Pt/C) and excellent stability for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) under acidic operating conditions. The mechanism of formation has been studied, and possible mesostructured re-formation and atomic re-organization have been proposed. This work offers an effective strategy for the facile synthesis of a highly acid-stable PtM alloying and opens a door to high-performance design for electrocatalysts.     

Platinum(IV) centres with agostic interactions from either sp² or sp³ C-H bonds

Agostic complexes of platinum(IV) have been isolated and characterised. A Pt(II) sp3 agostic complex maintains the agostic interaction upon oxidation giving a Pt(IV) sp3 agostic complex; in another Pt(IV) complex the agostic interaction from an sp2 C-H bond is sufficient to displace another ligand.     

Pt/WC/TiO2催化剂的制备及其电催化性能研究

以TiO2为载体制备了Pt/WC/TiO2三元复合催化剂,并由XRD、SEM和TEM等表征催化剂样品的形貌和结构特征.用循环伏安法测定了三元复合催化剂在酸性条件下对甲醇氧化的电催化性能,并将其与二元复合催化剂Pt/TiO2和Pt/WC的电催化性能进行比较.结果表明：三元复合催化剂具有更好的催化活性.进一步研究了二氧化钛晶相对Pt/WC/TiO2催化剂电催化活性的影响.