CO monolayer oxidation at Pt nanoparticles supported on glassy carbon electrodes

Fabrication and performance evaluation of a novel membrane electrode assembly for DMFCs

In this study, a new GDL was prepared using graphene–PVC–PANI and teflonated carbon cloth. PdNPs and nanosized LaNi_0.5Fe_0.5O₃NPs-CH was synthesized. A DMFC were designed, assembled and tested with the suggested nanoparticles and GDL.

Origin of Multiple Peaks in the Potentiodynamic Oxidation of CO Adlayers on Pt and Ru-Modified Pt Electrodes

The study of the electrooxidation mechanism of CO(ad) on Pt based catalysts is very important for designing more effective CO-tolerant electrocatalysts for fuel cells. We have studied the origin of multiple peaks in the cyclic voltammograms of CO stripping from polycrystalline Pt and Ru modified polycrystalline Pt (Pt/Ru) surfaces in both acidic and alkaline media by differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS), DFT calculations, and kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations. A new CO(ad) electrooxidation kinetic model on heterogeneous Pt and Pt/Ru catalysts is proposed to account for the multiple peaks experimentally observed. In this model, OH species prefer to adsorb at low-coordination sites or Ru sites and, thus, suppress CO repopulation from high-coordination sites onto these sites. Therefore, CO(ad) oxidation occurs on different facets or regions, leading to multiplicity of CO stripping peaks. This work provides a new insight into the CO electrooxidation mechanism and kinetics on heterogeneous catalysts.

Design criteria for stable Pt/C fuel cell catalysts

Platinum and Pt alloy nanoparticles supported on carbon are the state of the art electrocatalysts in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. To develop a better understanding on how material design can influence the degradation processes on the nanoscale, three specific Pt/C catalysts with different structural characteristics were investigated in depth: a conventional Pt/Vulcan catalyst with a particle size of 3-4 nm and two Pt@HGS catalysts with different particle size, 1-2 nm and 3-4 nm. Specifically, Pt@HGS corresponds to platinum nanoparticles incorporated and confined within the pore structure of the nanostructured carbon support, i.e., hollow graphitic spheres (HGS). All three materials are characterized by the same platinum loading, so that the differences in their performance can be correlated to the structural characteristics of each material. The comparison of the activity and stability behavior of the three catalysts, as obtained from thin film rotating disk electrode measurements and identical location electron microscopy, is also extended to commercial materials and used as a basis for a discussion of general fuel cell catalyst design principles. Namely, the effects of particle size, inter-particle distance, certain support characteristics and thermal treatment on the catalyst performance and in particular the catalyst stability are evaluated. Based on our results, a set of design criteria for more stable and active Pt/C and Pt-alloy/C materials is suggested.

Shape-controlled nanostructures in heterogeneous catalysis

Nanotechnologies have provided new methods for the preparation of nanomaterials with well-defined sizes and shapes, and many of those procedures have been recently implemented for applications in heterogeneous catalysis. The control of nanoparticle shape in particular offers the promise of a better definition of catalytic activity and selectivity through the optimization of the structure of the catalytic active site. This extension of new nanoparticle synthetic procedures to catalysis is in its early stages, but has shown some promising leads already. Here, we survey the major issues associated with this nanotechnology-catalysis synergy. First, we discuss new possibilities associated with distinguishing between the effects originating from nanoparticle size versus those originating from nanoparticle shape. Next, we survey the information available to date on the use of well-shaped metal and non-metal nanoparticles as active phases to control the surface atom ensembles that define the catalytic site in different catalytic applications. We follow with a brief review of the use of well-defined porous materials for the control of the shape of the space around that catalytic site. A specific example is provided to illustrate how new selective catalysts based on shape-defined nanoparticles can be designed from first principles by using fundamental mechanistic information on the reaction of interest obtained from surface-science experiments and quantum-mechanics calculations. Finally, we conclude with some thoughts on the state of the field in terms of the advances already made, the future potentials, and the possible limitations to be overcome.

Nanocomposite for methanol oxidation: synthesis and characterization of cubic Pt nanoparticles on graphene sheets

We present our recent results on Pt nanoparticles on graphene sheets (Pt-NPs/G), a nanocomposite prepared with microwave assistance in ionic liquid 2-hydroxyethanaminiumformate. Preparation of Pt-NPs/G was achieved without the addition of extra reductant such as hydrazine or ethylene glycol. The Pt nanoparticles on graphene have a cubic-like shape (about 60 wt% Pt loading, Pt-NPs/G) and the particle size is 6 ± 3 nm from transmission electron microscopy results. Electrochemical cyclic voltammetry studies in 0.5 M aqueous H2SO4 were performed using Pt-NPs/G and separately, for comparison, using a commercially available electrocatalyst (60 wt% Pt loading, Pt/C). The electrochemical surface ratio of Pt-NPs/G to Pt/C is 0.745. The results of a methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in 0.5 M aqueous H2SO4 + 1.0 M methanol for the two samples are presented. The MOR results show that the ratios of the current density of oxidation (If) to the current density of reduction (Ib) are 3.49 (Pt-NPs/G) and 1.37 (Pt/C), respectively, with a preference by 2.55 times favoring Pt-NPs/G. That is, the tolerance CO poisoning of Pt-NPs/G is better than that of commercial Pt/C.

Structure sensitivity and nanoscale effects in electrocatalysis

This review discusses the role of the detailed nanoscale structure of catalytic surfaces on the activity of various electrocatalytic reactions of importance for fuel cells, hydrogen production, and other environmentally important catalytic reactions, such as carbon monoxide oxidation, methanol and ethanol oxidation, ammonia oxidation, nitric oxide reduction, hydrogen evolution, and oxygen reduction. Specifically, results and insights obtained from surface-science single-crystal-based model experiments are linked to experiments on well-defined shape-controlled nanoparticles. A classification of structure sensitive effects in electrocatalysis is suggested, based both on empirical grounds and on quantum-chemical viz. thermochemical considerations. The mutual relation between the two classification schemes is also discussed. The review underscores the relevance of single-crystal modeling of nanoscale effects in catalysis, and points to the special role of two kinds of active sites for electrocatalysis on nanoparticulate surfaces: (i) steps and defects in (111) terraces or facets, and (ii) long-range (100) terraces or facets.

Fabrication of Pt/Ru nanoparticle pair arrays with controlled separation and their electrocatalytic properties

Aiming at the investigation of spillover and transport effects in electrocatalytic reactions on bimetallic catalyst electrodes, we have prepared novel, nanostructured electrodes consisting of arrays of homogeneously distributed pairs of Pt and Ru nanodisks of uniform size and with controlled separation on planar glassy carbon substrates. The nanodisk arrays (disk diameter ≈ 60 nm) were fabricated by hole-mask colloidal lithography; the separation between pairs of Pt and Ru disks was varied from -25 nm (overlapping) via +25 nm to +50 nm. Morphology and (surface) composition of the Pt/Ru nanodisk arrays were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the electrochemical/electrocatalytic properties were explored by cyclic voltammetry, CO(ad) monolayer oxidation ("CO(ad) stripping"), and potentiodynamic hydrogen oxidation. Detailed analysis of the CO(ad) oxidation peaks revealed that on all bimetallic pairs these cannot be reproduced by superposition of the peaks obtained on electrodes with Pt/Pt or Ru/Ru pairs, pointing to effective Pt-Ru interactions even between rather distant pairs (50 nm). Possible reasons for this observation and its relevance for the understanding of previous reports of highly active catalysts with separate Pt and Ru nanoparticles are discussed. The results clearly demonstrate that this preparation method is perfectly suited for fabrication of planar model electrodes with well-defined arrays of bimetallic nanodisk pairs, which opens up new possibilities for model studies of electrochemical/electrocatalytic reactions.

In situ X-ray absorption analysis of ∼1.8 nm dendrimer-encapsulated Pt nanoparticles during electrochemical CO oxidation

We report an in situ X-ray absorption-fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopic analysis of ∼1.8 nm Pt dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs) during electrocatalytic oxidation of CO. The results indicate that Pt nanoparticles encapsulated within poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers and immobilized on a carbon electrode retain their electrocatalytic activity and are structurally stable for extended periods during CO oxidation. This is a significant finding, because nanoparticles in this size range are good experimental models for comparison to first-principles calculations if they remain stable.

Pt/glassy carbon model catalysts prepared from PS-b-P2VP micellar templates

Poly(styrene)-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) diblock copolymer was used as a micellar template to fabricate arrays of Pt nanoparticles on mica and glassy carbon (GC) supports. Polymer micellar deposition yields Pt nanoparticles with tunable particle size and surface number density on both mica and GC. After deposition of precursor-loaded micelles onto GC, oxygen plasma etching removes the polymer shell, followed by thermal treatment with H2 gas to reduce the Pt. Etching conditions were optimized to maximize removal of the polymer while minimizing damage to the GC. Arrays of Pt nanoparticles with controlled size and surface number density can be prepared on mica (for particle size characterization) and GC to make Pt/GC model catalysts. These model catalysts were characterized by tapping mode atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry to measure activity for oxidation of carbon monoxide or methanol. Cyclic voltammetry results demonstrate the existence of a correlation between Pt particle size and electrocatalytic properties including onset potential, tolerance of carbonaceous adsorbates, and intrinsic activity (based on active Pt area from CO stripping voltammetry). Results obtained with Pt/GC model catalysts duplicate prior results obtained with Pt/porous carbon catalysts therefore validating the synthesis approach and offering a new, tunable platform to study catalyst structure and other effects such as aging on proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) reactions.

Nanostructured Pt/GC model electrodes prepared by the deposition of metal-salt-loaded micelles

Novel, nanostructured, carbon-supported Pt model electrodes with homogeneously distributed Pt nanoparticles of uniform size were fabricated and analyzed with respect to their electrochemical properties. For this purpose, Pt-salt-loaded micelles were deposited on a glassy carbon substrate and subsequently exposed to an oxygen plasma and a H2 atmosphere for removal of the polymer carriers and reduction of the Pt salt. The morphology of the resulting nanoparticles and their electrochemical/electrocatalytic properties were characterized by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry for CO electrooxidation. The data demonstrate that this method is generally suited to the production of nanostructured model electrodes with well-defined and independently adjustable particle size and interparticle distance distributions, which are specifically suited for quantitative studies of transport processes in electrocatalytic reactions.

Kinetic Modeling of COad Monolayer Oxidation on Carbon-Supported Platinum Nanoparticles

We present a theoretical study of CO(ad) electrooxidation on Pt nanoparticles. Effects of size and surface texture of nanoparticles on the interplay of relevant kinetic processes are investigated. Thereby, strong impacts of particle size on electrocatalytic activities, observed in experiments, are rationalized. Our theoretical approach employs the active site concept to account for the heterogeneous surface of nanoparticles. It, moreover, incorporates finite rates of surface mobility of adsorbed CO. As demonstrated, the model generalizes established mean field or nucleation and growth models. We find very good agreement of our model with chronoamperometric current transients at various particle sizes and electrode potentials (Maillard, F.; Savinova, E. R.; Stimming, U. J. Electroanal. Chem., in press, doi:10.1016/j.jelechem.2006.02.024). The full interplay of on-site reactivity at active sites and low surface mobility of CO(ad) unfolds on the smallest nanoparticles ( approximately 2 nm). In this case, the solution of the model requires kinetic Monte Carlo simulations specifically developed for this problem. For larger nanoparticles (>4 nm) the surface mobility of CO(ad) is high compared to the reaction rate constants, and the kinetic equations can be solved in the limiting case of infinite surface mobility. The analysis provides an insight into the prevailing reaction mechanisms and allows for the estimation of relevant kinetic parameters.

CO Oxidation on Pt-Modified Rh(111) Electrodes

The CO electro-oxidation reaction was studied on platinum-modified Rh(111) electrodes in 0.5 M H2SO4 using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The Pt-Rh(111) electrodes were generated during voltammetric cycles at 50 mV s(-1) in a 30 microM H2PtCl6 and 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. Surfaces generated by n deposition cycles were investigated (Ptn-Rh(111) with n=2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 16). The blank cyclic voltammograms of these surfaces are characterized by a pronounced sharpening of the hydrogen/(bi)sulfate adsorption/desorption peaks, typical for Rh(111), and the appearance of contributions between 0.1 and 0.4 V, which were ascribed to hydrogen/(bi)sulfate adsorption/desorption on the deposited platinum. At higher potentials, the surface oxidation of Rh(111) is enhanced by the presence of platinum. The structure of the Pt-modified electrodes was investigated by STM imaging. At low Pt coverages (Pt2-Rh(111)), monoatomically high islands are formed, which grow three dimensionally as the number of deposition cycles increases. After eight cycles, the monolayer islands have grown in diameter and range from mono- to multiatomic height. At even higher Pt coverage (Pt16-Rh(111)), the islands grow to particles of approx. 10 nm in diameter, which are 5-6 atoms high. The CO stripping voltammetry on these surfaces is characterized by two peaks: A low-potential, structure-insensitive peak, ascribed to CO reacting at the platinum monolayer islands, whose onset is shifted 150, 250, and 100 mV negatively with respect to pure Rh(111), Pt(111), and polycrystalline Pt, respectively, indicating the enhanced CO electro-oxidation properties of the Pt overlayer system. A peak at higher potentials displays strong structure sensitivity (particle-size effect) and was ascribed to CO reacting on the islands of multiatomic height. Current-time transients recorded on the surface with the highest amount of monolayer islands (Pt4-Rh(111)) also indicate enhanced CO-oxidation kinetics. Comparison of the Pt4-Rh(111) current-time transients recorded at 0.635, 0.675, and 0.750 V versus RHE (reversible hydrogen electrode) with those of pure Rh(111) and Pt(111) shows greatly reduced reaction times. A Cottrellian decay at long times indicates surface-diffusion-limited CO oxidation on the bare Rh(111) surface, while the peak visible at short times is indicative of CO reacting at the monolayer platinum islands. The results presented here show that, as indicated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the CO-adlayer oxidation for this system is enhanced compared to both pure Rh and Pt.