Synthesis and properties of a platinum catalyst supported on plasma chemical silicon carbide

A CO oxidation catalyst based on β–SiC and Pt nanoparticles has been synthesized and studied. The average size of Pt clusters on the surface of the plasma-chemical silicon carbide nanoparticles is close to 4 nm. It has been found that the rate of the CO oxidation reaction at low concentrations (100 mg/m³) in air at room temperature over the catalyst based on platinum and silicon carbide nanoparticles is 60–90 times that over a platinum black-based catalyst with a specific surface area of 30 m²/g. The Pt/SiC catalyst containing 12 wt % Pt has been found to provide the maximum CO oxidation rate.