Alloy Formation and Surface Segregation in Zeolite-Supported Pt−Pd Bimetallic Catalysts

Synthesis of a high-performance low-platinum PtAg/C alloyed oxygen reduction catalyst through the gradual reduction method

A low-platinum PtAg/C catalyst with excellent ORR activity and durability in acid is demonstrated to be promising for ORR catalysis.

First principles analysis of surface dependent segregation in bimetallic alloys

Stability is an important aspect of alloys, and proposed alloys may be unstable due to unfavorable atomic interactions. Segregation of an alloy may occur preferentially at specific exposed surfaces, which could affect the alloy's structure since certain surfaces may become enriched in certain elements. Using density functional theory (DFT), we modeled surface segregation in bimetallic alloys involving all transition metals doped in Pt, Pd, Ir, and Rh. We not only modeled common (111) surfaces of such alloys, but we also modeled (100), (110), and (210) facets of such alloys. Segregation is more preferred for early and late transition metals, with middle transition metals being most stable within the parent metal. We find these general trends in segregation energies for the parent metals: Pt > Rh > Pd > Ir. A comparison of different surfaces suggests no consistent trends across the different parent hosts, but segregation energies can vary up to 2 eV depending on the exposed surface. We also developed a statistical model to predict surface-dependent segregation energies. Our model is able to distinguish segregation at different surfaces (as opposed to generic segregation common in previous models), and agrees well with the DFT data. The present study provides valuable information about surface-dependent segregation and helps explain why certain alloy structures occur (e.g. core-shell).

Solving the Structure and Dynamics of Metal Nanoparticles by Combining X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy and Atomistic Structure Simulations

Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy is a premiere method for analysis of the structure and structural transformation of nanoparticles. Extraction of analytical information about the three-dimensional structure and dynamics of metal-metal bonds from EXAFS spectra requires special care due to their markedly non-bulk-like character. In recent decades, significant progress has been made in the first-principles modeling of structure and properties of nanoparticles. In this review, we summarize new approaches for EXAFS data analysis that incorporate particle structure modeling into the process of structural refinement.

Surface Segregation in Bimetallic Nanoparticles: A Critical Issue in Electrocatalyst Engineering

Bimetallic nanoparticles are a class of important electrocatalyst. They exhibit a synergistic effect that critically depends on the surface composition, which determines the surface properties and the adsorption/desorption behavior of the reactants and intermediates during catalysis. The surface composition can be varied, as nanoparticles are exposed to certain environments through surface segregation. Thermodynamically, this is caused by a difference in surface energy between the two metals. It may lead to the enrichment of one metal on the surface and the other in the core. The external conditions that influence the surface energy may lead to the variation of the thermodynamic steady state of the particle surface and, thus, offer a chance to vary the surface composition. In this review, the most recent and important progress in surface segregation of bimetallic nanoparticles and its impact in electrocatalysis are introduced. Typical segregation inducements and surface characterization techniques are discussed in detail. It is concluded that surface segregation is a critical issue when designing bimetallic catalysts. It is necessary to explore methods to control it and utilize it as a way towards producing robust, bimetallic electrocatalysts.

An experimental and theoretical investigation of the inversion of pd@pt core@shell dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles

Bimetallic PdPt dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs) having sizes of about 2 nm were synthesized by a homogeneous route that involved (1) formation of a Pd core, (2) deposition of a Cu shell onto the Pd core in the presence of H2 gas, and (3) galvanic exchange of Pt for the Cu shell. Under these conditions, a Pd@Pt core@shell DEN is anticipated, but detailed characterization by in-situ extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and other analytical methods indicate that the metals invert to yield a Pt-rich core with primarily Pd in the shell. The experimental findings correlate well with density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations. Theory suggests that the increased disorder associated with <~2 nm diameter nanoparticles, along with the relatively large number of edge and corner sites, drives the structural rearrangement. This type of rearrangement is not observed on larger nanoparticles or in bulk metals.

Monte Carlo simulation of surface segregation phenomena in extended and nanoparticle surfaces of Pt-Pd alloys

The surface segregation phenomena in the extended and nanoparticle surfaces of Pt-Pd alloys have been studied using the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation method and the modified embedded-atom method (MEAM) potentials developed for Pt-Pd alloys. The MEAM potentials were fitted to reproduce the experimental values of the lattice parameters, cohesive energies and surface energies of pure Pt and Pd metals, as well as the density functional theory calculation results of the lattice parameters and heat of formation of L1(2) Pt(3)Pd, L1(0) PtPd and L1(2) PtPd(3) crystal. Using the MC method and the developed MEAM potentials, we calculated the Pt concentrations in the outermost three layers of the equilibrium (111), (100) and (110) extended surfaces as well as the outermost surfaces of the equilibrium cubo-octahedral nanoparticles of Pt-Pd alloys. Our simulation results showed that the Pd atoms would segregate into the outermost layers of the extended surfaces and the Pt concentration would increase monotonically from the extended surfaces into the bulk. The equilibrium Pt-Pd nanoparticles were found to have Pd-enriched shells and Pt-enriched cores. In the shell of the Pt-Pd nanoparticles, the Pd atoms were predicted to preferably segregate to the (100) facets rather than the (111) facets.

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.