Adsorption of hydrogen on Pt(1 1 1) and Pt(1 0 0) surfaces and its role in the HOR

Hydrogen adsorption isotherms, evaluated by combination of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry, are reported on Pt(1 1 1) and Pt(1 0 0) surfaces in 0.1 M HClO₄. We found that at E > 0.05 V Pt(1 1 1) and Pt(1 0 0) are only partially covered by the adsorbed hydrogen (H_ad). On both surfaces, a full monolayer of the adsorbed hydrogen is completed at −0.1 V, i.e. the adsorption of atomic hydrogen is observed in the hydrogen evolution potential region. We also found, that the activity of the hydrogen oxidation reaction is mirrored by the shape of the hydrogen adsorption isotherms, implying that H_ad is in fact a spectator in the HOR.     

Nitrate reduction on Pt(1 1 1) surfaces modified by Bi adatoms

This work presents the effect of Bi modification of Pt(1 1 1) electrodes on the electroreduction of nitrate anions by using voltammetric and FTIR experiments. On Pt(1 1 1) nitrate consumption occurs at potentials lower than 0.35 V, but with Pt(1 1 1)/Bi this process is shifted to significantly higher potentials (0.6–0.7 V). In the latter surface N₂O was observed as the main product in solution. Different forms of adsorbed NO were detected on the adatom covered surfaces as well as on clean Pt(1 1 1).     

The potentials of zero charge of Pd(1 1 1) and thin Pd overlayers on Au(1 1 1)

The potential of zero charge (pzc) of Pd(1 1 1) has been determined in dilute NaF solutions by measuring the Gouy–Chapman minimum of the double-layer capacity. For a massive Pd(1 1 1) single crystal electrode a pzc of −0.12 V vs. SCE has been found. The corresponding values for thin Pd(1 1 1) overlayers on Au(1 1 1) have also been determined. While the pzc of the first, pseudomorphic Pd layer on Au(1 1 1) is −0.09 V vs. SCE, the pzc of a five monolayers thick Pd film on Au(1 1 1) is practically identical to the pzc of the massive Pd(1 1 1) electrode. By comparing pzc's and work functions for Au(1 1 1) and Pd(1 1 1), the dipole contribution to the potential drop across the Pd(1 1 1)/water interface is estimated.     

Preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide adsorbed on Pd submonolayer films deposited on Pt(1 0 0)

The electrochemical behavior of palladium modified Pt(1 0 0) in perchloric acid solution has been studied by means of cyclic voltammetry, CO bulk oxidation and in-situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR spectra on Pd submonolayers reveal that at low potentials (about 0.4 V) Pd-bounded CO is oxidized preferentially, whereas at the same time the Pt–CO oxidation rate is rather slow.     

Comparative theoretical study of formaldehyde decomposition on PdZn, Cu, and Pd surfaces

Methanol steam reforming, catalyzed by Pd/ZnO (PdZn alloy), is a potential source of hydrogen for on-board fuel cells. CO has been reported to be a minor side product of methanol decomposition that occurs in parallel to methanol steam reforming on PdZn catalysts. However, fuel cells currently used in vehicles are very sensitive to CO poisoning. To contribute to the understanding of pertinent reaction mechanisms, we employed density functional slab model calculations to study the decomposition of formaldehyde, a key intermediate in methanol decomposition and steam reforming reactions, on planar surfaces of Pd, Cu, and PdZn as well as on a stepped surface of PdZn. The calculated activation energies indicate that dehydrogenation of formaldehyde is favorable on Pd(111), but unfavorable on Cu(111) and PdZn(111). On the stepped PdZn(221) surface, the dehydrogenation process was calculated to be more competitive to formaldehyde desorption than on PdZn(111). Thus, we ascribe the experimentally observed small amount of CO, formed during steam reforming of methanol on the Pd/ZnO catalyst, to occur at metallic Pd species of the catalyst or at defect sites of PdZn alloy.     

Long-range effects on palladium deposited on Pt(1 1 1)

Two-dimensional long-range effects have been pointed out electrochemically for palladium adlayers on Pt(1 1 1) in the absence of anion specific adsorption. The observation of these effects requires well ordered electrode substrates. In this way, the characteristic features are not observed on stepped electrodes with 20 atoms wide terraces. The formation of a homogeneous adlayer is also required and the effects are pointed out only when the palladium coverage is close to the completion of the full monolayer.     

The molecular orientation of CO on Pd(1 1 1): a polarization-dependent SFG study

The molecular orientation of carbon monoxide adsorbed on Pd(1 1 1) was examined by sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy utilizing different polarization combinations of the visible and SFG light. This allows to determine the CO tilt angle with respect to the substrate, provided that a proper optical model for the interface can be defined. It is demonstrated that it is essential to invoke the β_aac hyperpolarizability into the analysis and that polarization-dependent SFG of CO/Pd(1 1 1) yields information on β_aac/β_ccc rather than the tilt angle.     

Slab calculations and Green’s function recursive methods combined to study the electronic structure of surfaces: application to Cu(1 1 1)–(4 × 4)-Na

We have recently developed an ab initio scheme for the calculation of the electronic structure of surfaces. The method is based on the combination of density functional calculations using finite slabs and the use of recursive methods to obtain the Green’s function of the surface. The slab calculations are performed using a linear combination of atomic orbitals as a basis set. From such calculation we directly obtain the surface Hamiltonian in a tight-binding form. Combining this information with that from a bulk calculation of the substrate, we gather all the pieces to construct the Hamiltonian of the semi-infinite system. The surface Green’s function is then computed using the transfer-matrix method and projected onto a wavepacket localized in the surface region. The width and energy of the surface electronic features are obtained from the analysis of such projection. With this approach we get rid of the finite size effects associated with the slab calculations. We have applied this method to the calculation of resonant charge transfer times from adsorbates to metallic substrates. We have focused in the case of core-excited Ar and S on Ru(0 0 0 1) to compare with core-hole clock spectroscopy experiments. We have also used our method to reveal the role of the elastic width in the scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements of the quasi two-dimensional quantum well state appearing in p(2 × 2) ordered overlayers of Na and Cs on Cu(1 1 1). Here we present a new application of the method to study a more diluted alkali overlayer, the Cu(1 1 1)–(4 × 4)-Na surface. We present results for the relaxed geometries, binding energies, work function change and the position and width of the 3s Na resonance.     

New understanding of the nature of OH adsorption on Pt(1 1 1) electrodes

The adsorption of hydroxyl on Pt(1 1 1) single crystal electrodes from aqueous acidic solutions is carefully reinvestigated. The effect of small additions (10⁻⁸–10⁻⁵ M) of chloride and bisulphate anions on the OH adsorption region in perchloric acid solution has been studied. Two regions can be differentiated in the voltammetric profile, that behave differently after the addition of the foreign anion. The initial broad adsorption process is unaffected until the highest concentration is attained. However, the sharper peak at higher potentials is affected even at the lower anion concentration. Since mass transport limitations allow to discard the anion adsorption as the main process giving this peak, we propose that the two processes are due to the dissociative adsorption of two different kinds of water, that are affected by the anion in a different way. From this idea, a new model, based on the Frumkin adsorption isotherm, is proposed, which gives an excellent fit of the experimental results.     

NEXAFS study of a Pt-containing rod-like organometallic polymer (Pt-DEBP): molecular orientation onto HOPG, Au/Si(1 1 1), Cr/Si(1 1 1) and Si(1 1 1) surfaces

The influence of different substrates on the molecular orientation of organometallic polymer Pt-DEBP, [Pt(PBu₃)₂CCC₁₂H₈CC]_n, has been investigated by NEXAFS spectroscopy. Thin films were deposited on HOPG, Au/Si(1 1 1), Cr/Si(1 1 1), Si(1 1 1) and stainless steel. The assignment of the spectral features has been carried out on the basis of previous STEX calculations performed on phenylacetylene model molecule in gas phase and adsorbed on Pt(1 1 1) and Cu(1 0 0). Angular dependent analysis of the π* resonance occurring at 285.50 eV photon energy deriving by the benzene carbon orbitals showed a polarisation effect for all substrates. A preferential molecular orientation at nearly 40° to the surface normal was observed. This result might be explained by the strong interaction between sp and sp² carbons of the organic diethynylbiphenyl DEBP moiety contained in close chains, leading to polymer self-assembling.     

Experimental and theoretical study of reactivity trends for methanol on Co/Pt(111) and Ni/Pt(111) bimetallic surfaces

Methanol was used as a probe molecule to examine the reforming activity of oxygenates on NiPt(111) and CoPt(111) bimetallic surfaces, utilizing density functional theory (DFT) modeling, temperature-programmed desorption, and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). DFT results revealed a correlation between the methanol and methoxy binding energies and the surface d-band center of various NiPt(111) and CoPt(111) bimetallic surfaces. Consistent with DFT predictions, increased production of H2 and CO from methanol was observed on a Ni surface monolayer on Pt(111), designated as Ni-Pt-Pt(111), as compared to the subsurface monolayer Pt-Ni-Pt(111) surface. HREELS was used to verify the presence and subsequent decomposition of methoxy intermediates on NiPt(111) and CoPt(111) bimetallic surfaces. On Ni-Pt-Pt(111) the methoxy species decomposed to a formaldehyde intermediate below 300 K; this species reacted at approximately 300 K to form CO and H2. On Co-Pt-Pt(111), methoxy was stable up to approximately 350 K and decomposed to form CO and H2. Overall, trends in methanol reactivity on NiPt(111) bimetallic surfaces were similar to those previously determined for ethanol and ethylene glycol.     

In situ study of nitrobenzene grafting on Si(1 1 1)-H surfaces by infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry

The binding of nitrobenzene (NB) molecules from a solution of 4-nitrobenzene-diazonium-tetrafluoroborate on a Si(1 1 1)-H surface was investigated during the electrochemical processing in diluted sulphuric acid by means of infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry (IR-SE). The grafting was monitored by an increase in specific IR absorption bands due to symmetric and anti-symmetric NO₂ stretching vibrations in the 1400–1700 cm^?1 regime. The p- and s-polarized reflectances were recorded within 20 s for each spectrum only. NB molecules were detected when bonded to the Si(1 1 1) surface but not in the 2 mM solution itself. Oxide formation on the NB grafted Si surface was observed after drying in inert atmosphere and not during the grafting process in the aqueous solution.     

Voltammetric analysis of the co-adsorption of cyanide and carbon monoxide on a Pt(1 1 1) surface

Carbon monoxide has been adsorbed at controlled potential on a Pt(1 1 1) electrode, which was pre-covered with cyanide up to saturation. From the results obtained, it has been deduced that CO occupies platinum sites between CN molecules with no distortion of the pre-adsorbed cyanide layer. The anodic stripping of CO does not induce modifications of the CN adlayer either. These observations allow the estimation of θ_CO rather accurately by means of the coulometric method.     

Surface electronic structure of Pt(1 1 0): comparison with Ni and Pd

The unoccupied electronic structure of Pt(1 1 0) was investigated by inverse photoemission. The results were compared with the data for Ni(1 1 0) and Pd(1 1 0) with particular emphasis on surface states. The surface states in the gap of Pt(1 1 0) are shifted upwards relative to Ni and Pd, as a consequence of the (1 × 2) missing-row reconstruction. In contrast, the surface state at is only weakly affected, which indicates that it is essentially a one-dimensional state, localized on the densely-packed atomic chains on the Pt(1 1 0) surface.     

The interfacial chemistry and energy level structure of a liquid crystalline perylene derivative on Au(1 1 1) and graphite surfaces

We compare the energy level structure of ordered monolayers of N,N′-ditridecyl-3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI-C13) on Au(1 1 1) and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Both ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy and scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements show the formation of an occupied interface state for PTCDI-C13 on Au(1 1 1), whereas no such state is observed for PTCDI-C13 on HOPG. Comparative density functional theory calculations for various isolated perylene derivatives in the neutral and anionic states are unable to explain differences in observed interface state formation, which suggests that the interface state for PTCDI-C13/Au(1 1 1) is a consequence of a weak chemical interaction of this molecule and the Au substrate.     

UV laser induced photo-response from the structure-sensitive adsorption of lactic acid on Pt(1 1 1)

UV irradiation (266 nm) from a nano-second pulsed laser induced a transient photo-current on Pt(1 1 1) electrode when it is contacted to an aqueous solution containing lactic acid. The potential dependence of this photo-current and the potentiodynamic behavior in the dark suggested that this electrocatalytic oxidation proceeds under the dual-path mechanism. This photo-response also revealed a potential dependence of the coverage of a short-lived adsorption intermediate.     

A bonding study of cyclopentene (c-C5H8) adsorption on Ni(1 1 1) surface

The adsorption of cyclopentene (c-C₅H₈) on Ni(1 1 1) was studied using DFT and semiempirical calculations. Preferred site and geometry calculations were carried out considering a Ni(1 1 1) surface and a unit cell of 64-atoms. The tetrahedral threefold hollow position was identified as the most favorable site, with a surface-molecule minimum distance of 1.83 Å. A bending structure is adopted when the molecule is adsorbed where the carbon atoms of the double bond are closer to the surface forming an angle of 160° among non-equivalents carbon atoms. The metal surface was represented by a two-dimensional slab with an overlayer of c-C₅H₈/Ni of 1/9 ratio. We also computed the density of states (DOS) and the crystal orbital overlap populations (COOP) corresponding to CC, CNi, CH, and NiNi bonds. We found that both NiNi bonds interacting with the ring, and the CC bond are weakened after adsorption, this last bond is linked significantly to the surface. The hydrogen atoms belonging to the saturated carbon atoms also participate in the adsorbate–surface bonding. The main interactions include the 4s, 3p_z and 5d_z² bands of nickel and 2p_z bands of the carbon atoms of the double bond.     

Experimental study of intermediates and wave phenomena in co oxidation on platinum metal (Pt,Pd) surfaces

The mechanism of catalytic CO oxidation on Pt(100) and Pd(110) single-crystal surfaces and on Pt and Pd sharp tip (～10³ Å) surfaces has been studied experimentally by temperature-programmed reaction, temperature desorption spectroscopy, field electron microscopy, and molecular beam techniques. Using the density functional theory the equilibrium states and stretching vibrations of oxygen atoms adsorbed on the Pt(100) surface have been calculated. The character of the mixed adsorption layer was established by high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy—molecular adsorption (O_2ads, CO_ads) on Pt(100)-hex and dissociative adsorption (O_ads, CO_ads) on Pt(100)-(1×1). The origin of kinetic self-oscillations for the isothermal oxidation of CO in situ was studied in detail on the Pt and Pd tips by field electron microscopy. The initiating role of the reversible phase transition (hex) ? (1 × 1) of the Pt(100) nanoplane in the generation of regular chemical waves was established. The origination of self-oscillations and waves on the Pt(100) nanoplane was shown to be caused by the spontaneous periodical transition of the metal from the low-active state (hex) to the highly active catalytic state (1 × 1). A relationship between the reactivity of oxygen atoms (O_ads) and the concentration of CO_ads molecules was revealed for the Pd(110) surface. Studies using the isotope label ¹⁸O_ads demonstrated that the low-temperature formation of CO₂ at 150 K is a result of the reaction of CO with the highly reactive state of atomic oxygen (O_ads). The possibility of the low-temperature oxidation of CO via interaction with the so-called “hot” oxygen atoms (O_hot) appearing on the surface at the instant of dissociation of O_2ads molecules was studied by the molecular beam techniques.     

Synthesis and characterization of preferentially oriented (1 0 0) Pt nanowires

Two types of platinum deposits were obtained by potentiostatic deposition onto Ti substrates, namely platinum black (Pt B) and platinum nanowires (Pt NW) with the latter being achieved through a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane at the solution/substrate interface. Surface characterization of these deposits was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) in sulphuric acid solution. Surface properties for Pt NW revealed a predominant presence of (1 0 0) crystallographic planes, not present in Pt B deposit grown in the same conditions. Also, Pt NW exhibits an increased resistance to electrochemically active surface area (EASA) loss upon potential cycling in acidic solution, as compared to Pt B.