Acetate- and thiol-capped monodisperse ruthenium nanoparticles: XPS, XAS, and HRTEM studies

Monodisperse ruthenium nanoparticles were prepared by reduction of RuCl3 in 1,2-propanediol. The mean particle size was controlled by appropriate choice of the reduction temperature and the acetate ion concentration. Colloidal solutions in toluene were obtained by coating the metal particles with dodecanethiol. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS for the Ru K-absorption edge) were performed on particles of two different diameters, 2 and 4 nm, and in different environments, polyol/acetate or thiol. For particles stored in polyol/acetate XPS studies revealed superficial oxidation limited to one monolayer and a surface coating containing mostly acetate ions. Analysis of the EXAFS spectra showed both oxygen and ruthenium atoms around the ruthenium atoms with a Ru-Ru coordination number N smaller than the bulk value, as expected for fine particles. In the case of 2 nm acetate-capped particles N is consistent with particles made up of a metallic core and an oxidized monolayer. For 2 nm thiol-coated particles, a Ru-S bond was evidenced by XPS and XAS. For the 4 nm particles XANES and XPS studies showed that most of the ruthenium atoms are in the zerovalent state. Nevertheless, in both cases, when capped with thiol, the Ru-Ru coordination number inferred from EXAFS is much smaller than for particles of the same size stored in polyol. This is attributed to a structural disorganization of the particles by thiol chemisorption. HRTEM studies confirm the marked dependence of the structural properties of the ruthenium particles on their chemical environment; they show the acetate-coated particles to be single crystals, whereas the thiol-coated particles appear to be polycrystalline.     

Ru-decorated Pt surfaces as model fuel cell electrocatalysts for CO electrooxidation

This feature article concerns Pt surfaces modified (decorated) by ruthenium as model fuel cell electrocatalysts for electrooxidation processes. This work reveals the role of ruthenium promoters in enhancing electrocatalytic activity toward organic fuels for fuel cells, and it particularly concerns the methanol decomposition product, surface CO. A special focus is on surface mobility of the CO as it is catalytically oxidized to CO(2). Different methods used to prepare Ru-decorated Pt single crystal surfaces as well as Ru-decorated Pt nanoparticles are reviewed, and the methods of characterization and testing of their activity are discussed. The focus is on the origin of peak splitting involved in the voltammetric electrooxidation of CO on Ru-decorated Pt surfaces, and on the interpretative consequences of the splitting for single crystal and nanoparticle Pt/Ru bimetallic surfaces. Apparently, screening through the literature allows formulating several models of the CO stripping reaction, and the validity of these models is discussed. Major efforts are made in this article to compare the results reported by the Urbana-Champaign group and the Munich group, but also by other groups. As electrocatalysis is progressively more and more driven by theory, our review of the experimental findings may serve to summarize the state of the art and clarify the roads ahead. Future studies will deal with highly dispersed and reactive nanoscale surfaces and other more advanced catalytic materials for fuel cell catalysis and related energy applications. It is expected that the metal/metal and metal/substrate interactions will be increasingly investigated on atomic and electronic levels, with likewise increasing participation of theory, and the structure and reactivity of various monolayer catalytic systems involving more than two metals (that is ternary and quaternary systems) will be interrogated.     

燃料电池纳米催化剂的稳定化

低温燃料电池是理想的移动式电源,它所采用的电催化剂主要为Pt基贵金属纳米催化剂。提高纳米催化剂在电池内部环境中的稳定性、抑制其活性衰减,对于延长低温燃料电池的使用寿命和节约成本具有十分重要的意义。本文从三个方面综述了近年来在低温燃料电池纳米催化剂稳定化方面的研究进展。首先,通过载体效应实现催化剂的稳定化,包括碳载体的石墨化、碳载体的掺杂、表面功能化及其他载体的采用等。其次,通过空间效应实现催化剂的稳定化,包括催化剂粒子表面覆盖、催化剂粒子微孔嵌入、催化剂表面杂多酸单层自组装及聚合物电解质空间阻隔等。再其次,通过协同效应实现催化剂的稳定化,包括提升金属粒子的氧化电位、强化组分间的相互作用等。最后,对低温燃料电池纳米催化剂稳定化的发展前景进行了展望。     

Shape dependent properties of CdSe nanostructures

We investigate the impact of surface character, shape and size of CdSe particles on their electrostatic and structural properties and discuss consequences for their role as sensitizers. Other than previous theoretical studies which have focussed on a fixed particle shape and a small set of sizes we systematically investigate a large set of more than a thousand nanocrystals with different shapes, sizes, and aspect ratios. This novel approach allows us to draw conclusions on significant correlations of the relevant properties of these crystals with shape, surface character and size. In particular, we find significant differences between the properties of approximately spherically shaped particles, and particles with well defined surfaces along crystal planes but also between particles of the latter class. A surprisingly strong impact of the specific shape and surface configuration is found for the internal structure well inside the crystal as measured by bond lengths correlated with coordination numbers.     

Mechanism of RuO2 crystallization in borosilicate glass: an original in situ ESEM approach

Ruthenium, a fission product arising from the reprocessing of spent uranium oxide (UOX) fuel, crystallizes in the form of acicular RuO(2) particles in high-level waste containment glass matrices. These particles are responsible for significant modifications in the physicochemical behavior of the glass in the liquid state, and their formation mechanisms are a subject of investigation. The chemical reactions responsible for the crystallization of RuO(2) particles with acicular or polyhedral shape in simplified radioactive waste containment glass are described. In situ high-temperature environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) is used to follow changes in morphology and composition of the ruthenium compounds formed by reactions at high temperature between a simplified RuO(2)-NaNO(3) precursor and a sodium borosilicate glass (SiO(2)-B(2)O(3)-Na(2)O). The key parameter in the formation of acicular or polyhedral RuO(2) crystals is the chemistry of the ruthenium compound under oxidized conditions (Ru(IV), Ru(V)). The precipitation of needle-shaped RuO(2) crystals in the melt might be associated with the formation of an intermediate Ru compound (Na(3)Ru(V)O(4)) before dissolution in the melt, allowing Ru concentration gradients. The formation of polyhedral crystals is the result of the direct incorporation of RuO(2) crystals in the melt followed by an Ostwald ripening mechanism.     

Two-dimensional ruthenium nanoparticles between graphite layers: The effect of reduction temperature

A mixture of graphite powder and ruthenium chloride (III) anhydrous was treated at 723 K under 0.3 MPa chlorine for 3 days, followed by reduction under 40 kPa of hydrogen for 1 h to produce ruthenium metal particles intercalated between graphite layers (Ru-GIC). The structures of ruthenium particles depended on the reduction temperatures. Sheet-like ruthenium particles with 1–3 nm thickness and 10 to several hundred nm width containing numerous irregularly shaped holes with round edge, were formed by reduction at 573 K. A Ru-GIC sample treated at 653 K possessed two-dimensional ruthenium nanosheets with hexagonal holes (straight lines intersect at an angle of 120°) in a similar range of thickness and width. On the other hand, Ru-GIC samples reduced at 773 and 823 K showed two-dimensional plate morphology with a thickness of 1–4 nm. In addition, ruthenium nanoparticles supported on the graphite surface (Ru/Gmix) were also prepared from a slurry of ruthenium chloride (III) hydrate and graphite powder by impregnation and hydrogen reduction. The ruthenium particles in Ru/Gmix were spherical at about 3.6 nm, and the reduction temperature did not affect their particles size. Both Ru-GIC and Ru/Gmix samples were evaluated for cinnamaldehyde (CAL) hydrogenation in supercritical carbon dioxide solvent at 323 K, and they were active to produce cinnamyl alcohol (COL) and hydrocinnamaldehyde (HAL). However, Ru-GIC samples showed higher COL selectivity than Ru/Gmix prepared at the same reduction temperature, and COL selectivity over Ru-GIC increased with the reduction treatments at 773 and 823 K.     

Multimetallic ruthenium(II) complexes as electrochemiluminescent labels

Two homometallic complexes containing two and three ruthenium polypyridyl units linked by amino acid lysine (Lys) and the related dipeptide (LysLys) were synthesized and their electrochemical, spectroscopic, and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) properties were investigated. The electrochemical and photophysical data indicate that the two metal complexes largely retain the electronic properties of the reference compound for the separate ruthenium moieties in the two bridged complexes, [4-carboxypropyl-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine]bis(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complex. The ECL studies, performed in aqueous media in the presence of tri-n-propylamine as co-reactant, show that the ECL intensity increases by 30% for the dinuclear and trinuclear complexes compared to the reference. Heterogeneous ECL immunoassay studies, performed on larger dendritic complexes containing up to eight ruthenium units, demonstrate that limitations due to the slow diffusion can easily be overcome by means of nanoparticle technology. In this case, the ECL signal is proportional to the number of ruthenium units. Multimetallic systems with several ruthenium centers may, however, undergo nonspecific bonding to streptavidin-coated particles or to antibodies, thereby increasing the background ECL intensity and lowering the sensitivity of the immunoassay.     

铂合金纳米立方块催化剂的氧还原反应活性比较

氧还原反应是质子交换膜燃料电池和金属-空气电池的重要反应,贵金属铂（Pt）与元素周期表中第一排的非贵过渡金属（M）形成铂合金催化剂（PtM）可以提高氧还原反应活性. 但是,有关活性的提高有多大程度上是来自合金元素的贡献却仍然存在争议. 为了研究合金元素对PtM催化活性的影响,本工作合成了颗粒形状与合金元素含量相似的铂锰（PtMn）, 铂铁（PtFe）, 铂钴（PtCo）和铂镍（PtNi）纳米立方块催化剂,并考察了不同铂合金催化剂在酸性介质中的氧还原反应活性. 选择制备立方块形状纳米颗粒催化剂进行比较,可以将颗粒表面结构对催化活性的影响降到最小. 结果表明,氧还原反应活性与铂d-带中心值曲线呈现火山形关系,其中PtCo纳米立方块催化剂的活性最高. 本文所得到的实验结果与基于d-带理论框架已知表面的密度泛函理论计算结果一致.     

The problem of Ru dissolution from Pt–Ru catalysts during fuel cell operation: analysis and solutions

Platinum–ruthenium catalysts are widely used as anode materials in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFCs) operating with reformate gas and in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Ruthenium dissolution from the Pt–Ru anode catalyst at potentials higher than 0.5?V vs. DHE, followed by migration and deposition to the Pt cathode can give rise to a decrease of the activity of both anode and cathode catalysts and to a worsening of cell performance. A major challenge for a suitable application of Pt–Ru catalysts in PEMFC and DMFC is to improve their stability against Ru dissolution. The purpose of this paper is to provide a better knowledge of the problem of Ru dissolution from Pt–Ru catalysts and its effect on fuel cell performance. The different ways to resolve this problem are discussed.     

直接甲醇燃料电池催化剂性能的影响因素

考察了温度、电位及中间产物等因素对直接甲醇燃料电池催化剂性能的影响.结果表明,温度的升高会显著促进Pt催化剂粒子的聚结.对于PtRu催化剂,Ru氧化物/水合氧化物对Pt微晶的聚结具有抑制作用.高温放电实验后,PtRu催化剂的合金化程度有所提高.高电位会加速电催化剂的降解.电极反应中间产物甲酸和甲醛对甲醇电催化氧化反应具有一定的抑制作用,其中甲醛的影响更大.     

Redox-active silica nanoparticles. Part 1. Electrochemistry and catalytic activity of spherical, nonporous silica particles with nanometric diameters and covalently bound redox-active modifications

Nonporous spherical silica nanoparticles resulting from a controlled St?ber process are covalently surface modified with redox-active molecules. Ferrocene, a ruthenium(II) complex with an N2P2Cl2 ligand set, and a sterically hindered biphenylamine are used as modifiers. The resulting materials are characterized by physical, spectroscopic, electrochemical, and chemical methods. The cyclic voltammetric behavior is studied in detail and reveals effects of charge transport by electron hopping along the surface of particles adsorbed on a Pt electrode. The ruthenium(II) complex remains catalytically active with respect to hydrogenation upon immobilization on the particles. Thus, the respective material provides a heterogenized homogeneous hydrogenation catalyst on a solid support.     

Dynamics of water droplets detached from porous surfaces of relevance to PEM fuel cells

The detachment of liquid droplets from porous material surfaces used with proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells under the influence of a cross-flowing air is investigated computationally and experimentally. CCD images taken on a purpose-built transparent fuel cell have revealed that the water produced within the PEM is forming droplets on the surface of the gas-diffusion layer. These droplets are swept away if the velocity of the flowing air is above a critical value for a given droplet size. Static and dynamic contact angle measurements for three different carbon gas-diffusion layer materials obtained inside a transparent air-channel test model have been used as input to the numerical model; the latter is based on a Navier–Stokes equations flow solver incorporating the volume of fluid (VOF) two-phase flow methodology. Variable contact angle values around the gas–liquid–solid contact-line as well as their dynamic change during the droplet shape deformation process, have allowed estimation of the adhesion force between the liquid droplet and the solid surface and successful prediction of the separation line at which droplets loose their contact from the solid surface under the influence of the air stream flowing around them. Parametric studies highlight the relevant importance of various factors affecting the detachment of the liquid droplets from the solid surface.     

PtRu/carbon nanotube nanocomposite synthesized in supercritical fluid: a novel electrocatalyst for direct methanol fuel cells

Platinum/ruthenium nanoparticles were decorated on carbon nanotubes (CNT) in supercritical carbon dioxide, and the nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). TEM images show that the particles size is in the range of 5-10 nm, and XRD patterns show a face-centered cubic crystal structure. Methanol electrooxidation in 1 M sulfuric acid electrolyte containing 2 M methanol were studied onPtRu/CNT (Pt, 4.1 wt%; Ru, 2.3 wt%; molar ratio approximately Pt/Ru = 45:55) catalysts using cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. All the electrochemical results show that PtRu/CNT catalysts exhibit high activity for methanol oxidation which resulted from the high surface area of carbon nanotubes and the nanostructure of platinum/ruthenium particles. Compared with Pt/CNT, the onset potential is much lower and the ratio of forward anodic peak current to reverse anodic peak current is much higher for methanol oxidation, which indicates the higher catalytic activity of PtRu/CNT. The presence of Ru with Pt accelerates the rate of methanol oxidation. The results demonstrated the feasibility of processing bimetallic catalysts in supercritical carbon dioxide for fuel cell applications.     

Combinatorial discovery of new methanol-tolerant non-noble metal cathode electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cells

Combinatorial synthesis and screening were used to identify methanol-tolerant non-platinum cathode electrocatalysts for use in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Oxygen reduction consumes protons at the surface of DMFC cathode catalysts. In combinatorial screening, this pH change allows one to differentiate active catalysts using fluorescent acid-base indicators. Combinatorial libraries of carbon-supported catalyst compositions containing Ru, Mo, W, Sn, and Se were screened. Ternary and quaternary compositions containing Ru, Sn, Mo, Se were more active than the "standard" Alonso-Vante catalyst, Ru(3)Mo(0.08)Se(2), when tested in liquid-feed DMFCs. Physical characterization of the most active catalysts by powder X-ray diffraction, gas adsorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the predominant crystalline phase was hexagonal close-packed (hcp) ruthenium, and showed a surface mostly covered with oxide. The best new catalyst, Ru(7.0)Sn(1.0)Se(1.0), was significantly more active than Ru(3)Se(2)Mo(0.08), even though the latter contained smaller particles.     

Enhanced local density of states at the Fermi level of the surface platinum in carbon-supported platinum particles by Nafion ionomer

¹⁹⁵Pt nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was employed to study the influence of Nafion ionomers (NIs), a common ingredient used as a proton conducting mediator and binder in a membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, on the local density of states at the Fermi surface (E_F-LDOS) of Pt/C catalysts. NIs were observed to increase the surface E_F-LDOS of Pt particles, thereby altering of the catalytic properties of metal particles. This correlates well with the reduction of fuel oxidation rates. Thus, ionomers decreasing the surface E_F-LDOS of Pt particles would be desirable. In addition, a new concept to interpret the surface E_F-LDOS was introduced and validated.     

Preparation and characterization of positively charged ruthenium nanoparticles

Positively charged ruthenium nanoparticles were prepared by NaBH(4) reduction at room temperature and at pH values lower than 4.9. The ruthenium nanoparticles were characterized by zeta potential measurement, TEM, XPS, and XRD. Particles with a mean diameter of 1.8 nm and a standard deviation of 0.40 nm could be obtained under the experimental conditions. The surface charge on the particles is believed to originate from hydrated proton adsorption. The positively charged ruthenium nanoparticles could be used as the starting material for further functionalization by PVP, ethylenediamine, and dodecylamine.     

Electrooxidation of Methanol on Platinum–Ruthenium Catalysts Applied to a Cation-Exchange Membrane

Possibilities for production of active Pt–Ru electrodes for the direct methanol fuel cell with a decreased content of platinum-group metals in them are studied. Platinum and ruthenium are electrodeposited on a thin layer of carbon black applied to a Nafion 117 membrane. The deposition potential effect on the specific surface area of the catalyst and its electrochemical activity in the methanol oxidation is studied. The oxidation currents are related to unit true surface area or unit catalyst mass. The dependence of activity on the Pt : Ru ratio in the plating solution and in the deposit is studied. The effect of the catalyst amount deposited and the particle size on the activity is studied. It is shown that the catalytic activity decreases at the average diameter of Pt–Ru particles less than 4 nm. The results are compared with the size effects observed earlier.     

LiFeO_2包覆MCFC氧化镍阴极的制备及性能研究

以硝酸锂和硝酸铁为原料 ,柠檬酸作燃料 ,采用燃烧合成法制备了铁酸锂包覆的多孔氧化镍阴极 .X_射线衍射技术 (XRD)、X_射线能量散射谱 (EDAX)和电子显微镜 (TEM和SEM )分析表明 ,在氧化镍颗粒表面的包覆层是由直径小于 10 0nm的铁酸锂微粒所构成 ,并与氧化镍颗粒紧密烧结在一起 ,有效地减少了氧化镍与熔融碳酸盐的接触面积 ,从而降低了氧化镍的溶解度 .同时 ,本文还研究了该阴极在熔融碳酸盐燃料电池中的电性能 ,并与未包覆的NiO阴极进行比较     

Friction of rodlike particles adsorbed to a planar surface in shear flow

A planar hard surface covered with elongated stiff rodlike particles in shear flow is considered in the low-Reynolds-number regime assuming low particle surface coverage. The particles are modeled as straight chains of spherical beads. Multipole expansion of the Stokes equations (the accurate HYDROMULTIPOLE algorithm) is applied to evaluate the hydrodynamic force exerted by the fluid on the rodlike particles, depending on their shape, i.e., on the number of beads and their orientation with respect to the wall and to the ambient shear flow.     

Stöber synthesis of monodispersed luminescent silica nanoparticles for bioanalytical assays

We have developed a simple method to prepare bright and photostable luminescent silica nanoparticles of different sizes and narrow size distribution in high yield. The method is based on the use of St?ber synthesis in the presence of a fluorophore to form bright silica nanoparticles. Unlike micro-emulsion-based methods often used to prepare luminescent silica particles, the St?ber method is a one-pot synthesis that is carried out at room temperature under alkaline conditions in ethanol:water mixtures and avoids the use of potentially toxic organic solvents and surfactants. Our luminescent particles contained the transition metal complex tris(1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) chloride, [Ru(phen)3]Cl2. They showed higher photostability and a longer fluorescence lifetime compared to free Ru(phen)3 solutions. Leakage of dye molecules from the silica particles was negligible, which was attributed to strong electrostatic attractions between the positively charged ruthenium complex and the negatively charged silica. To demonstrate the utility of the highly luminescent silica nanoparticles in bioassays, we further modified their surface with streptavidin and demonstrated their binding to biotinylated glass slides. The study showed that digital counting of the luminescent nanoparticles could be used as an attractive alternative to detection techniques involving analogue luminescence detection in bioanalytical assays.