Adsorption of azacrown ethers at solid–liquid interface. Contact angle and neutron reflectivity study

Adsorption of two alkylated N,N′-diaza-18-crown-6 ethers (decyl- and hexadecyl-derivatives, ACE-10 and ACE-16, respectively) on solid surfaces was studied by using contact angle and neutron reflectivity measurements. The solid substrates used were (a) Si covered with a native oxide layer (Si/SiO₂) and (b) Si with sputtered Pt layer (Si/Pt). The sensitivity of neutron reflectivity was drastically improved by applying the intermediate Pt layer of 150 Å, which gave rise to several Kiessig fringes in the experimentally accessible q-range. The position of the fringes is very sensitive to slight changes of the interfacial composition induced by adsorption of a thin monolayer, otherwise very difficult to detect. Unfortunately, in the studied case this sensitivity is immediately lost due to undesired adsorption of a protonated material on the Pt surface exposed to the lab air. A decrease of surface energy (increase of contact angle) of both Si/SiO₂ and Si/Pt upon exposure to toluene solutions of ACEs suggests that the latter are attached to the surface via the hydrophilic azacrown ether head with alkyl chains standing upright towards the liquid phase.     

碳原子的再分布对铂上高质量单层石墨烯生长的影响

二维材料石墨烯以其独特的性质显示出在众多领域的应用潜力。化学气相淀积(CVD)作为最有效的生长单层石墨烯的方法得以良好发展。但在CVD方法中,频繁出现的多层石墨烯“点”严重影响单层石墨烯的有效面积,进而限制了石墨烯在很多场景中的应用。本文通过引入一个新的阶段-再分布阶段,使得在分解阶段溶解在铂片中的碳原子重新分布,进而减少了多层石墨烯“点”的数目。单层石墨烯的平均面积增加到16000μm₂,较未引入再分布阶段的单层面积增大了八倍。最后,拉曼光谱仪的测试结果说明了新方法下生长的石墨烯的高质量特征。     

Tuning Nanoparticle Catalysis for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Advances in chemical syntheses have led to the formation of various kinds of nanoparticles (NPs) with more rational control of size, shape, composition, structure and catalysis. This review highlights recent efforts in the development of Pt and non‐Pt based NPs into advanced nanocatalysts for efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) under fuel‐cell reaction conditions. It first outlines the shape controlled synthesis of Pt NPs and their shape‐dependent ORR. Then it summarizes the studies of alloy and core–shell NPs with controlled electronic (alloying) and strain (geometric) effects for tuning ORR catalysis. It further provides a brief overview of ORR catalytic enhancement with Pt‐based NPs supported on graphene and coated with an ionic liquid. The review finally introduces some non‐Pt NPs as a new generation of catalysts for ORR. The reported new syntheses with NP parameter‐tuning capability should pave the way for future development of highly efficient catalysts for applications in fuel cells, metal‐air batteries, and even in other important chemical reactions.     

Synthesis of CuCorePtShell Nanoparticles as Model Structures for Core–Shell Electrocatalysts by Direct Platinum Electrodeposition on Copper

The synthesis of Cu(core)Pt(shell) model catalysts by the direct electrochemical deposition of Pt on Cu particles is presented. Cu particles with an average diameter of 200 nm have been deposited on glassy‐carbon electrodes by double pulse electrodeposition from a copper sulfate solution. Subsequent deposition from a platinum nitrate solution under potential control allows for a high selectivity of the Pt deposition towards Cu. Using a combination of cyclic voltammetry, XPS and sputtering, the structure of the generated particles has been analyzed and their core–shell configuration proven. It is shown that the electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction is similar to that of other PtCu catalyst systems. The synthesized structures could allow for the analysis of structure–activity relations of core–shell catalysts on the way to the simple and controlled synthesis of supported Cu(core)Pt(shell) nanoparticles as oxygen reduction catalysts.     

Effect of Non‐Specifically Adsorbed Ions on the Surface Oxidation of Pt(111)

The oxidation processes of a Pt(111) electrode in alkaline electrolytes depend on non‐specifically adsorbed ions according to in situ X‐ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopic measurements. In an aqueous solution of LiOH, an OH_ad adlayer is formed in the first oxidation step of the Pt(111) electrode as a result of the strong interaction between Li⁺ and OH_ad, whereas Pt oxidation proceeds without OH_ad formation in CsOH solution. Structural analysis by X‐ray diffraction indicates that Li⁺ is strongly protective against surface roughening caused by subsurface oxidation. Although Cs⁺ is situated near the Pt surface, the weak protective effect of Cs⁺ results in irreversible surface roughening due to subsurface oxidation.     

燃料电池铂钴锰合金催化剂的制备及性能

为提高PtCo/C合金催化剂的电化学性能,采用微波法合成铂钴锰催化剂前驱体,经高温热处理形成合金,最后通过酸处理得到铂钴锰合金催化剂(PtCoMn/C)。电化学测试结果表明:适量锰的添加可提升PtCo/C催化剂的活性和耐久性。PtCoMn/C催化剂在 0.9 V(vs RHE)电压下的质量比活性(MA)达到 0.666 A·mg_Pt^-1,是传统 Pt/C 的 2.66 倍,是 PtCo/C 催化剂的 1.30 倍。在30 000圈催化剂加速耐久性测试中,PtCoMn/C合金催化剂的电化学活性面积(ECSA)和质量比活性(MA)仅下降6.9%和27.1%,均远低于Pt/C催化剂。     

金属-半导体异质结构纳米晶的可控制备和光谱调控

本文简要综述了金属-半导体异质结构纳米晶的设计、可控制备和物性研究的相关工作.设计了异相成核与生长、选择硫化和种子介导液相外延生长3种不同的方法并以此制备了多种金属-半导体异质结构纳米晶,对其中所涉及的反应机制进行了论述,并简要探讨了金属-半导体异质结构纳米晶的热稳定性、表面等离子共振活性、荧光特性以及异质界面的电荷转移和保持能力.