Facile synthesis of PtSnZn nanosheet thin film at oil–water interface by use of organometallic complexes: An efficient catalyst for methanol oxidation and p‐nitrophenol reduction reactions

Abstract

PtSnZn nanosheet thin film with stable and high activity towards methanol electro‐oxidation was synthesized via a simple reduction of organometallic precursors including [PtCl2(cod)] (cod = cis,cis‐1,5‐cyclooctadiene) and [Sn(CH3)4] complexes, in the presence of [Zn(acac)2] (acac = acetylacetonate) complex at toluene–water interface. Catalytic activities of PtSnZn nanosheets were investigated in the p‐nitrophenol (p‐Nip) reduction and methanol oxidation reactions. The obtained results demonstrate that PtSnZn nanosheets exhibit a good electrocatalytic performance for methanol oxidation reaction, the catalytic activity of the PtSnZn nanosheets being at least 3.5 times higher than that of Pt nanoparticle thin film. Also, the apparent rate constant obtained for p‐Nip reduction with the PtSnZn nanosheets is at least 2.3 times higher than that for Pt nanoparticle thin film due to the appropriate interaction between platinum, tin and zinc metals and geometric properties of PtSnZn nanosheet thin film. Nanosheets are highly favourable for superior catalytic performances due to their geometric properties. A facile and efficient route was used to synthesize trimetallic alloy thin film at oil–water interface.