Downshift Of D-band Center Research Articles

Simple one-pot synthesis of platinum-palladium nanoflowers with enhanced catalytic activity and methanol-tolerance for oxygen reduction in acid media

In this work, bimetallic alloyed platinum-palladium (PtPd) nanoflowers are fabricated by one-pot solvothermal co-reduction of Pt (II) acetylacetonate and Pd (II) acetylacetonate in oleylamine system. The as-prepared nanostructures show the enhanced electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), dominated by a four-electron pathway based on the Koutecky-Levich plots, mainly owing to the inhibition of the formation of Pt–OHad via the downshift of d-band center for Pt. Meanwhile, PtPd nanoflowers display good methanol tolerance and improved stability for ORR. The chronoamperometry test reveals that the current of PtPd nanoflowers remains 45.9% of its original value within 6000 s, much higher than those of commercial Pt (36.7%) and Pd (32.2%) black catalysts. Therefore, PtPd nanoflowers with unique interconnected structures can be used as a promising cathode catalyst in direct methanol fuel cells.

Tungsten Carbide Supports for Single-Atom Platinum-Based Fuel-Cell Catalysts: First-Principles Study on the Metal–Support Interactions and O2Dissociation on WxC Low-Index Surfaces

As a first attempt to understand the role of tungsten carbide (WxC) surfaces as a support of single-atom platinum-based catalysts, the adsorption properties of Pt on WxC(100) surfaces and its impact on O2 dissociation are investigated using first-principle DFT calculations. Pt adsorptions on the dominant low-index WxC surfaces are found to be stable on various adsorption sites. The adsorbed Pt atoms are unlikely to diffuse into the bulk and, in general, resistant to bulk-like clustering. A correlation between the adsorption energies and the surface energies is observed; that is, the stronger adsorption of Pt atoms on the surfaces, the lower the surface energies of the Pt/WxC(100) systems. This leads to the further downshift of d-band center of the surface slabs. From the stability of Pt atoms on different WxC low-index surfaces, it is conclusive that WxC(100) surfaces are effective supports for single-atom platinum catalysts. Preliminary DFT results of O2 dissociation on single-atom Pt–WxC(100) system show the generation of new interface sites that thermodynamically favor oxygen dissociation, even at high coverage.

Lattice contracted Pd-hollow nanocrystals: Synthesis, structure and electrocatalysis for formic acid oxidation

Hollow metal nanocrystals with tuned electronic and geometric structure are highly desirable for the efficient catalytic and/or electrocatalytic reactions. Herein, we report the synthesis of carbon-supported Pd hollow nanocrystal (Pd-hollow/C) catalyst through a galvanic replacement reaction combined with Kirkendall effect without the use of polymeric stabilizer. The Pd-hollow structure is verified by scanning transmission electron microscopy. Noticeable lattice contraction in the Pd-hollow nanocrystal has been observed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction with a decrease in the Pd (111) lattice distance. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that the surface Pd atoms donate more electrons to the overlap with the sub-layer atoms, suggesting a strengthened d-hybridization and a down-shift of d-band center relative to the Fermi level on the surface. Electrochemical measurements show that the Pd-hollow/C catalyst exhibits a significantly enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward formic acid oxidation. The collective effects of the hollow structure and down-shift of Pd d-band center could explain well such an enhanced catalytic activity. The present study provides new insights into the relevancy of lattice parameter, electronic structure with catalytic property, and suggests design features for excellent nanostructured catalysts.

Tuning the electrocatalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes via surface functionalization

Polyelectrolytes with various characteristic functional groups as interlinkers to anchor Pt nanoparticles were used to functionalize carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as Pt electrocatalyst support. It was found that polyanions (poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PSS), and poly(acrylic acid sodium) (PAA)) have a beneficial effect on methanol electrooxidation on Pt nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes via modifying their electronic structure through charge transfer from polyanions to Pt sites and supply of oxygen-containing species. The increased electron density around Pt sites by the charge transfer from polyanions would cause partial filling of Pt 5 d-bands, resulting in the downshift of d-band center and weaker chemisorption with oxygen-containing species (e.g. CO ad). The weakened chemisorption of CO on Pt nanoparticles would promote the methanol electrooxidation. On the contrary, polycations would have an opposite effect on the electronic structure and chemisorption properties of Pt nanoparticles.

Modulating the reactivity of Ni-containing Pt(111)-skin catalysts by density functional theory calculations

We present here a first principles density functional theory investigation of the reactivity of Pt(111)-skin catalysts, which are varied from surface alloys with Ni to bulk PtxNi 1-x (x=0.25,0.50,0.75) alloys. Molecule (CO, O, and H) adsorption and oxidation of CO+O and H+O reactions were studied and analyzed in detail. Independent of the adsorbates, the interaction between adsorbates and substrates becomes weakened with increase in Ni, due to the downshift of d-band center of surface Pt atoms. Moreover, activation barriers of CO and H oxidation toward atomic oxygen gradually decrease. In term of CO preferential oxidation (PROX) in excess of hydrogen, it turns out that the overall reactivity and selectivity rely on the optimum of various elementary steps involved such as competitive molecular (dissociative) adsorption and oxidation reaction. The present calculations show that Pt3Ni(111) with Pt overlayer is an optimum catalyst for CO PROX in excess of hydrogen.