Heat-induced alterations in the surface population of metal sites in bimetallic nanoparticles

The ability to alter the surface population of metal sites in bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) is of great interest in the context of heterogeneous catalysis. Here, we report findings of surface alterations of Pt and Ru metallic sites in bimetallic carbon-supported (PtRu/C) NPs that were induced by employing a controlled thermal-treatment strategy. The thermal-treatment procedure was designed in such a way that the particle size of the initial NPs was not altered and only the surface population of Pt and Ru was changed, thus allowing us to deduce structural information independent of particle-size effects. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was utilized to deduce the structural parameters that can provide information on atomic distribution and/or extent of alloying as well as the surface population of Pt and Ru in PtRu/C NPs. The PtRu/C catalyst sample was obtained from Johnson Matthey, and first the as-received catalyst was reduced in 2 % H2 and 98 % Ar gas mixture at 300 degrees C for 4 h (PtRu/C as-reduced). Later this sample was subjected to thermal treatment in either oxygen (PtRu/C-O2-300) or hydrogen (PtRu/C-H2-350). The XAS results reveal that when the as-reduced PtRu/C catalyst was exposed to the O2 thermal-treatment strategy, a considerable amount of Ru was moved to the catalyst surface. In contrast, the H2 thermal-treatment strategy led to a higher population of Pt on the PtRu/C surface. Characterization of the heat-treated PtRu/C samples by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy reveals that there is no significant change in the particle size of thermally treated samples when compared to the as-received PtRu/C sample. The electrochemical properties of the as-reduced and heat-treated PtRu/C catalyst samples were confirmed by cyclic voltammetry, CO-adsorption stripping voltammetry, and linear sweep voltammetry. Both XAS and electrochemical investigations concluded that the PtRu/C-H2-350 sample exhibits significant enhancement in reactivity toward methanol oxidation as a result of the increased surface population of the Pt when compared to the PtRu/C-O2-300 and PtRu/C as-reduced samples.     

Activation of nanoparticle Pt-Ru fuel cell catalysts by heat treatment: a 195Pt NMR and electrochemical study

(195)Pt NMR spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements were carried out on commercial Pt-Ru alloy nanoparticle samples to investigate the effect of high-temperature annealing in different vacuum/gas-phase environments. Samples annealed at 220 degrees C in Ar gas, or in a vacuum, did not show any demonstrable change in catalytic activity vs electrochemically reduced, room-temperature samples. In contrast, annealing at 220 degrees C in H(2) gas led to a 3-fold increase in reactivity toward methanol oxidation (per surface site). NMR experiments show that annealing at 220 degrees C (in both Ar and H(2)) leads to a slight reduction in the Fermi level local density of states (E(F)-LDOS) at the Pt sites, which we attribute to surface enrichment of Ru. This electronic effect alone, however, appears to be too small to account for the increase in the catalytic activity observed for the H-treated catalyst. By comparing the electrochemical and NMR data of the H- and Ar-treated samples, we conclude that annealing at 220 degrees C in the hydrogen atmosphere reduces surface Ru oxides into metallic Ru, and consequently, the presence of metallic Ru and its enrichment on the surface are essential for the enhanced catalytic activity. In contrast, heat treatment at 600 degrees C in both vacuum and argon atmosphere increases the particle size and reduces the amount of platinum on the nanoparticle surface, thereby increasing the surface Ru content beyond the optimum surface composition values. This causes a large reduction in catalytic activity. Our results suggest that optimizing the amount of surface Ru by heat treatment at temperatures near 200 degrees C, in a hydrogen atmosphere, can be utilized to produce Pt-Ru alloy nanoparticles with high methanol oxidation activity. Finally, our NMR and electrochemical data, taken together with the lattice parameter measurements, lead to a novel model of Pt-Ru alloy nanoparticles having a Ru-rich core and a Pt-Ru alloy overlayer.     

Growth of PtRu Clusters on Ru(0001)‐Supported Monolayer Graphene Films

We report on results of a detailed scanning tunnelling microscopy study on the formation, size and size distribution, and internal structure of small bimetallic PtRu clusters on a graphene monolayer film supported on a Ru(0001) substrate. These clusters, with sizes around ～15 (Ru) or ～40 (Pt) atoms per cluster at the lowest coverage, are interesting model systems for the catalytic behaviour of small metal PtRu particles, for example for application in electrocatalytic oxidation reactions. The clusters were generated by sequential deposition of the two metals at room temperature. The data reveal a distinct influence of the deposition sequence on the cluster formation process, with Ru pre‐deposition followed by Pt deposition leading to predominantly bimetallic clusters, possibly with a core–shell‐type structure, while the reverse sequence results in co‐existent mono‐ and bimetallic clusters, where the latter are likely to intermix at the interface. The observations are related to the nucleation process of the respective metals on the templated surface, and the 2D growth behaviour of the two metals.     

PtRu合金薄膜结构及其催化性能

采用离子束溅射技术(IBS)在碳纤维布基底上制备PtRu/C合金薄膜作为燃料电池电极催化材料. 应用XPS、XRD、GIXD、AFM等分析手段研究了PtRu薄膜表面的成分、化学状态、表面形貌以及PtRu薄膜的表层、次表层和体相的结构. 结果表明, 在双束离子沉积过程中, 由于溅射产生的Pt+和Ru+之间的相互作用, 使薄膜表面的化学状态和薄膜表层(15-40 nm范围内)结构发生了变化, 并影响PtRu薄膜的催化性能. 当xPt/xRu=0.64时, PtRu薄膜出现Ru固溶体在表层富集, 并在表层诱发形成Pt39Ru61非晶相.     

From Adlayer Islands to Surface Alloy: Structural and Chemical Changes on Bimetallic PtRu/Ru(0001) Surfaces

The correlation between structural and chemical properties of bimetallic PtRu/Ru(0001) model catalysts and their modification upon stepwise annealing of a submonolayer Pt‐covered Ru(0001) surface up to the formation of an equilibrated Pt_xRu_1?x/Ru(0001) monolayer surface alloy was investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy and by the adsorption of CO and D₂ probe molecules. Both temperature‐programmed desorption and IR measurements demonstrate the influence of the surface structure on the adsorption properties of the bimetallic surface, which can be explained by changes of the composition of the adsorption ensembles (ensemble effects) for D adsorption and by changes in the electronic interaction (ligand effects, strain effects) of the metallic constituents for CO and D adsorption upon alloy formation.     

Specific features of the oxygen reaction on catalytic systems in acetonitrile-based electrolytes

The oxygen reaction is studied in acetonitrile solutions on various nanosystems: ХС72, 20Au/C, 20Pt/C, 15Ru/C, 20Pd/C, 20Pt10Ru/C, 20PdRu/C. It is shown that as regards their activity in the oxygen electroreduction reaction, the studied materials form the following series: Pd/C > PtRu/C > PdRu>Pt/C> Ru/C ≈ Au/C ≈ ХС72, whereas in the reaction of Li₂O₂ electrooxidation the activity series is different: Ru/C > PtRu/C > Pd/C > PdRu/C> ХС72 > Pt/C > Au/C. Assumptions are drawn on the nature of passivation for systems with the highest activity. The prospects of bimetallic catalysts (PtRu/C and PdRu/С) that combine the high activity in reactions of oxygen electroreduction and Li₂O₂ electrooxidation and also retain a considerable part of their activity on cycling are discussed. These results make it possible to judge on the possible applications of bimetallic nanosystems with bifunctional catalytic properties in lithiumoxygen fuel cells.     

Nanostructure PtRu/MWNTs as anode catalysts prepared in a vacuum for direct methanol oxidation

Platinum and ruthenium nanoparticles that are uniformly dispersed on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were synthesized by vacuum pyrolysis using Pt(acac)2 and Ru(acac)3 as the metal precursors. The resulting nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The Pt, Pt45Ru55, and Ru nanoparticles had mean diameters of 3.0 +/- 0.6, 2.7 +/- 0.6, and 2.5 +/- 0.4 nm and the same mole number as their metal precursors at 500 degrees C. The electrocatalytic activity of the Pt/MWNTs and PtRu/MWNTs was investigated at room temperature by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. All of the electrochemical results showed that the PtRu/MWNTs exhibited a high level of catalytic activity for methanol oxidation as a result of the large surface area of the supporting carbon nanotubes and the wide dispersion of the Pt and Ru nanoparticles. Compared with the Pt/MWNTs, the onset potential for methanol oxidation of the PtRu/MWNTs was significantly lower, and the ratio of the forward anodic peak current to the reverse anodic peak current during methanol oxidation was somewhat higher. The Pt45Ru55/MWNTs displayed the best electrocatalytic activity of all of the carbon-nanotube-supported Pt and PtRu catalysts.     

In-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of Pt and Ru chemistry during methanol electrooxidation

Methanol electrooxidation in a 0.5 M sulfuric acid electrolyte containing 1.0 M CH3OH was studied on 30% Pt/carbon and 30% PtRu/carbon (Pt/Ru = 1:1) catalysts using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Absorption by Pt and Ru was measured at constant photon energy in the near edge region during linear potential sweeps of 10-50 mV/s between 0.01 and 1.36 V vs rhe. The absorption results were used to follow Pt and Ru oxidation and reduction under transient conditions as well as to monitor Ru dissolution. Both catalysts exhibited higher activity for methanol oxidation at high potential following multiple potential cycles. Correlation of XAS data with the potential sweeps indicates that Pt catalysts lose activity at high potentials due to Pt oxidation. The addition of Ru to Pt accelerates the rate of methanol oxidation at all potentials. Ru is more readily oxidized than Pt, but unlike Pt, its oxidation does not result in a decrease in catalytic activity. PtRu/carbon catalysts underwent significant changes during potential cycling due to Ru loss. Similar current density vs potential results were obtained using the same PtRu/carbon catalyst at the same loading in a membrane electrode assembly half cell with only a Nafion (DuPont) solid electrolyte. The results are interpreted in terms of a bifunctional catalyst mechanism in which Pt surface sites serve to chemisorb and dissociate methanol to protons and carbon monoxide, while Ru surface sites activate water and accelerate the oxidation of the chemisorbed CO intermediate. PtRu/carbon catalysts maintain their activity at very high potentials, which is attributed to the ability of the added Ru to keep Pt present in a reduced state, a necessary requirement for methanol chemisorption and dissociation.     

Relating the Composition of PtxRu100−x/C Nanoparticles to Their Structural Aspects and Electrocatalytic Activities in the Methanol Oxidation Reaction

A controlled composition‐based method—that is, the microwave‐assisted ethylene glycol (MEG) method—was successfully developed to prepare bimetallic Pt_xRu_100?x/C nanoparticles (NPs) with different alloy compositions. This study highlights the impact of the variation in alloy composition of Pt_xRu_100?x/C NPs on their alloying extent (structure) and subsequently their catalytic activity towards the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). The alloying extent of these Pt_xRu_100?x/C NPs has a strong influence on their Pt d‐band vacancy and Pt electroactive surface area (Pt ECSA); this relationship was systematically evaluated by using X‐ray absorption (XAS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and electrochemical analyses. The MOR activity depends on two effects that act in cooperation, namely, the number of active Pt sites and their activity. Here the number of active Pt sites is associated with the Pt ECSA value, whereas the Pt‐site activity is associated with the alloying extent and Pt d‐band vacancy (electronic) effects. Among the Pt_xRu_100?x/C NPs with various Pt:Ru atomic ratios (x=25, 50, and 75), the Pt₇₅Ru₂₅/C NPs were shown to be superior in MOR activity on account of their favorable alloying extent, Pt d‐band vacancy, and Pt ECSA. This short study brings new insight into probing the synergistic effect on the surface reactivity of the Pt_xRu_100?x/C NPs, and possibly other bimetallic Pt‐based alloy NPs.     

聚乙烯吡咯烷酮对Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇的结构和催化性能影响

以乙二醇为还原剂,通过微波热辐射制备得到稳定的Pt/Ru双金属胶体纳米簇,各颗粒粒径在1~2nm范围。考察了聚合物聚乙烯吡咯烷酮（PVP）对Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇表面原子组成及催化性能的影响。结果表明,PVP与金属前体之间的不同相互作用影响Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇的形成。在Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇形成之前加入PVP,Pt原子更容易富集在双金属表面,有利于增加Pt在催化反应中的作用。在PVP稳定的Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇中,除了零价态的Pt、Ru单质外,还存在氧化态的Pt化合物,归因于PVP与Pt前体的相互作用。在环己烯加氢反应中,PVP-Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇显示出比单金属纳米簇更优越的催化性能。     

聚乙烯吡咯烷酮对Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇的结构和催化性能影响

以乙二醇为还原剂,通过微波热辐射制备得到稳定的Pt/Ru双金属胶体纳米簇,各颗粒粒径在1~2 nm范围。考察了聚合物聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)对Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇表面原子组成及催化性能的影响。结果表明,PVP与金属前体之间的不同相互作用影响Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇的形成。在Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇形成之前加入PVP,Pt原子更容易富集在双金属表面,有利于增加Pt在催化反应中的作用。在PVP稳定的Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇中,除了零价态的Pt、Ru单质外,还存在氧化态的Pt化合物,归因于PVP与Pt前体的相互作用。在环己烯加氢反应中,PVP-Pt/Ru双金属纳米簇显示出比单金属纳米簇更优越的催化性能。     

阵列纳米管中铂:钌原子比对甲醇电催化氧化活性的影响（英文）

采用电化学沉积技术在3-氨丙基三甲基硅氧烷修饰的多孔氧化铝膜板中制备了具有不同Pt/Ru原子比的双元Pt/Ru阵列纳米管电极（NTAEs）。分别用X-射线衍射和扫描电镜表征了催化剂结构和形态。电化学结果表明：通过控制前驱沉积液的浓度可得到不同PtRu原子比的NTAEs。所制备的Pt 或 Pt/Ru合金阵列纳米电极的真实表面积大,催化活性强,有利于物质传输,对甲醇电氧化显示出显著的催化性能。实验中还系统研究了催化剂组成与CO和CH3OH电催化氧化性能的关系,发现Pt/Ru=50:50的阵列纳米管电极对CO电氧化显示出最好的催化活性;对甲醇电氧化,则Ru原子比为40%的催化剂显示最佳催化性能。     

Fast preparation of PtRu catalysts supported on carbon nanofibers by the microwave-polyol method and their application to fuel cells

PtRu alloy nanoparticles (24 +/- 1 wt %, Ru/Pt atomic ratios = 0.91-0.97) supported on carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were prepared within a few minutes by using a microwave-polyol method. Three types of CNFs with very different surface structures, such as platelet, herringbone, and tubular ones, were used as new carbon supports. The dependence of particles sizes and electrochemical properties on the structures of CNFs was examined. It was found that the methanol fuel cell activities of PtRu/CNF catalysts were in the order of platelet > tubular > herringbone. The methanol fuel cell activities of PtRu/CNFs measured at 60 degrees C were 1.7-3.0 times higher than that of a standard PtRu (29 wt %, Ru/Pt atomic ratio = 0.92) catalyst loaded on carbon black (Vulcan XC72R) support. The best electrocatalytic activity was obtained for the platelet CNF, which is characterized by its edge surface and high graphitization degree.     

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.     

Simple replacement reaction for the preparation of ternary Fe(1-x)PtRu(x) nanocrystals with superior catalytic activity in methanol oxidation reaction

The finding of new metal alloyed nanocrystals (NCs) with high catalytic activity and low cost to replace PtRu NCs is a critical step toward the commercialization of fuel cells. In this work, a simple cation replacement reaction was utilized to synthesize a new type of ternary Fe(1-x)PtRu(x) NCs from binary FePt NCs. The detailed structural transformation from binary FePt NCs to ternary Fe(1-x)PtRu(x) NCs was analyzed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Ternary Fe(35)Pt(40)Ru(25), Fe(31)Pt(40)Ru(29), and Fe(17)Pt(40)Ru(43) NCs exhibit superior catalytic ability to withstand CO poisoning in methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) than do binary NCs (FePt and J-M PtRu). Also, the Fe(31)Pt(40)Ru(29) NCs had the highest alloying extent and the lowest onset potential among the ternary NCs. Furthermore, the origin for the superior CO resistance of ternary Fe(1-x)PtRu(x) NCs was investigated by determining the adsorption energy of CO on the NCs' surfaces and the charge transfer from Fe/Ru to Pt using a simulation based on density functional theory. The simulation results suggested that by introducing a new metal into binary PtRu/PtFe NCs, the anti-CO poisoning ability of ternary Fe(1-x)PtRu(x) NCs was greatly enhanced because the bonding of CO-Pt on the NCs' surface was weakened. Overall, our experimental and simulation results have indicated a simple route for the discovery of new metal alloyed catalysts with superior anti-CO poisoning ability and low usage of Pt and Ru for fuel cell applications.     

二维多层PtRu/PtNd纳米薄膜的结构效应及电催化氧化活性

采用离子束多靶溅射技术控制膜层结构制备出二维多层PtRu/PtNd纳米合金薄膜作为微型直接甲醇燃料电池(DMFCs)阳极催化电极材料. 应用X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、原子力显微镜(AFM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、掠入射X射线衍射(GIXD)研究了薄膜表面的化学状态、形貌以及薄膜表层、次表层和体相的结构,并用CO-stripping伏安法、循环伏安法(CV)、线性扫描伏安法(LSV)、计时电流法(CA)等电化学方法测试薄膜催化剂的电化学活性比表面积及其对甲醇的电催化氧化. 结果表明, 多次交替沉积制备的PtRu/PtNd薄膜, 由于溅射产生的Pt+、Ru+和Pt+、Nd+之间的相互作用, 使薄膜表面的化学状态和膜层结构发生变化, 其衍射谱峰呈现异常宽化, Pt与Nd之间产生电子转移, 证实了PtRu/PtNd纳米合金薄膜是一种具有特殊膜层结构和电子结构的二维多层PtRu/PtNd纳米合金薄膜, 电化学活性比表面积高达115.00m2 ·g-1, 在酸性溶液中电催化氧化甲醇的活性显著提高.     

Physical and morphological characteristics and electrochemical behaviour in PEM fuel cells of PtRu /C catalysts

Platinum-ruthenium catalysts supported on carbon (PtRu/C) have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), specific surface area analysis (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell tests. The results indicate the presence of strong metal-carbon interactions, which hinder the formation of a single-phase face-centered cubic (fcc) PtRu alloy. The particle size of the PtRu/C catalysts was smaller than both carbon-supported platinum (Pt/C) and ruthenium (Ru/C) catalysts. In the bimetallic electrocatalysts the intercrystallite distance decreased with respect to pure Pt and Ru metals. PEM fuel cell tests in H₂/air operation mode revealed a decrease of performance with increasing carbon content of the catalyst, at a fixed Pt loading. In H₂ + 100 ppm CO/air operation mode the maximum performance of the PEM fuel cell was attained at 0.63 atomic fraction Ru. Received: 2 December 1999 / Accepted: 27 January 2000     

Fabrication of PtRu/Ru core–shell nanowires by exchanging Ru phases

In this study, we successfully fabricated PtRu/Ru core–shell nanowires (NWs) prepared from as-spun Ru/Pt core–shell NWs via a co-electrospinning method. Their formation mechanism together with the structural characteristics, morphology, and composition of the resulting PtRu/Ru core–shell NWs was elucidated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). PtRu/Ru core–shell NWs fabricated from as-spun Ru/Pt core–shell NWs were formed as a result of interdiffusion between Ru atoms and Pt atoms during calcination after co-electrospinning.     

Chemical Dealloying Mechanism of Bimetallic Pt–Co Nanoparticles and Enhancement of Catalytic Activity toward Oxygen Reduction

The chemical dealloying mechanism of bimetallic Pt–Co nanoparticles (NPs) and enhancement of their electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) have been investigated on a fundamental level by the combination of X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and aberration‐corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Structural parameters, such as coordination numbers, alloy extent, and the unfilled d states of Pt atoms, are derived from the XAS spectra, together with the compositional variation analyzed by line‐scanning energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) on an atomic scale, to gain new insights into the dealloying process of bimetallic Pt–Co NPs. The XAS results on acid‐treated Pt–Co/C NPs reveal that the Co–Co bonding in the bimetallic NPs dissolves first and the remaining morphology gradually transforms to a Pt‐skin structure. From cyclic voltammetry and mass activity measurements, Pt–Co alloy NPs with a Pt‐skin structure significantly enhance the catalytic performance towards the ORR. Further, it is observed that such an imperfect Pt‐skin surface feature will collapse due to the penetration of electrolyte into layers underneath and cause further dissolution of Co and the loss of Pt. The electrocatalytic activity decreases accordingly, if the dealloying process lasts for 4 h. The findings not only demonstrate the importance of appropriate treatment of bimetallic catalysts, but also can be referred to other Pt bimetallic alloys with transition metals.     

Bifunctional versus Defect-Mediated Effects in Electrocatalytic Methanol Oxidation

The most prominent and intensively studied anode catalyst material for direct methanol oxidation fuel cells consists of a combination of platinum (Pt) and ruthenium (Ru). Classically, their high performance is attributed to a bifunctional reaction mechanism where Ru sites provide oxygen species at lower overpotential than Pt. In turn, they oxidize the adsorbed carbonaceous reaction intermediates at lower overpotential; among these, the Pt site-blocking carbon monoxide. We demonstrate that well-defined Pt modified Ru(0001) single crystal electrodes, with varying Pt contents and different local PtRu configurations at the surface, are unexpectedly inactive for the methanol oxidation reaction. This observation stands in contradiction with theoretical predictions and the concept of bifunctional catalysis for this reaction. Instead, we suggest that pure Pt defect sites play a more critical role than bifunctional defect sites on the electrodes investigated in this work.