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DOE OSTI2017

Adsorption of CO on Low-Energy, Low-Symmetry Pt Nanoparticles: Energy Decomposition Analysis and Prediction via Machine-Learning Models

We present a systematic analysis of CO adsorption on Pt nanoclusters in the 0.2–1.5 nm size range with the aim of unraveling size-dependent trends and developing predictive models for site-specific adsorption behavior. Using an empirical-potential-based genetic algorithm and density functional theory (DFT) modeling, we show that there exists a size window (40–70 atoms) over which Pt nanoclusters bind CO weakly, the binding energies being comparable to those on (111) or (100) facets. The size-dependent adsorption energy trends are, however, distinctly nonmonotonic and are not readily captured using traditional descriptors such as d-band energies or (generalized) coordination numbers of the Pt binding sites. Instead, by applying machine-learning algorithms, we show that multiple descriptors, broadly categorized as structural and electronic descriptors, are essential for qualitatively capturing the CO adsorption trends. Nevertheless, attaining quantitative accuracy requires further refinement, and we propose the use of an additional descriptors—the fully frozen adsorption energy—that is a computationally inexpensive probe of CO–Pt bond formation. With these three categories of descriptors, we achieve an absolute mean error in CO adsorption energy prediction of 0.12 eV, which is similar to the underlying error of DFT adsorption calculations. Our approach allows for building quantitatively predictive models of site-specific adsorbate binding on realistic, low-symmetry nanostructures, which is an important step in modeling reaction networks as well as for rational catalyst design in general.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2018

Surface (Electro)chemistry of CO 2 on Pt Surface: An in Situ Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy Study

Understanding the surface (electro)chemistry of CO 2 and CO on Pt is needed to design active, selective catalysts for CO-tolerant fuel cell reactions and CO 2 reduction. In this work, the surface reactivity of Pt in a CO 2 -saturated alkaline electrolyte was revealed by combining in situ surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Here, we show that during potential cycling in 1 M KHCO 3 electrolyte, CO adsorbates (CO ad ), more specifically, CO ad surrounded by OH adsorbates (OH ad ), with linear or bridged configuration, were produced through the reductive adsorption of HCO 3 – catalyzed by H adsorbates on Pt. The CO ad coadsorbed with OH ad was oxidized to COOH ad at potentials as low as ~0.3 V RHE , which was further oxidized to CO 2 at 0.9 V RHE and higher. Further analysis suggests that the proximity between CO ad and OH ad is key to trigger the conversion reaction from CO ad to CO 2 through forming COOH ad intermediate at room temperature. The details about how Pt surface adsorbates change as a function of voltage in CO 2 -saturated alkaline electrolytes can provide strategies to design CO-tolerant catalysts for fuel cell applications and active and selective catalysts for the CO 2 reduction reaction.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2023

Elucidation of the Active Site for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction on a Single Pt Atom Supported on Indium Tin Oxide

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted attention for their high catalytic activity and selectivity, but the nature of their active sites under realistic reaction conditions, involving various ligands, is not well understood. In this study, we use Density Functional Theory calculations and grand canonical basin hopping to theoretically investigate the active site for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on single Pt atom supported on Indium Tin Oxide, including the influence of the electrochemical potential. We show that the ligands on the Pt atom change from Pt-OH in the absence of electrochemical potential to PtO(OH) 4 in electrochemical conditions. This change of the chemical state of Pt is associated to a decrease of 0.3V for the OER overpotential. This highlights the importance of accurately identifying the nature of the active site under reaction conditions and the impact of adsorbates on the electrocatalytic activity. This theoretical investigation enhances our understanding of SACs for OER.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2019

Probing Magnetism in Insulating Cr 2 Ge 2 Te 6 by Induced Anomalous Hall Effect in Pt

Two-dimensional ferromagnet Cr2Ge2Te6 (CGT) is so resistive below its Curie temperature that probing its magnetism by electrical transport becomes extremely difficult. By forming heterostructures with Pt, however, we observe clear anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in 5 nm thick Pt deposited on thin (<50 nm) exfoliated flakes of CGT. The AHE hysteresis loops persist to ∼60 K, which matches well to the Curie temperature of CGT obtained from the bulk magnetization measurements. The slanted AHE loops with a narrow opening indicate magnetic domain formation, which is confirmed by low-temperature magnetic force microscopy (MFM) imaging. These results clearly demonstrate that CGT imprints its magnetization in the AHE signal of the Pt layer. Density functional theory calculations of CGT/Pt heterostructures suggest that the induced ferromagnetism in Pt may be primarily responsible for the observed AHE. Our results establish a powerful way of investigating magnetism in 2D insulating ferromagnets, which can potentially work for monolayer devices.

Lohmann, Mark↗

DOE OSTI2023

Ultrasmooth Epitaxial Pt Thin Films Grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition

Platinum (Pt) thin films are useful in applications requiring high-conductivity electrodes with excellent thermal and chemical stability. Ultrasmooth and epitaxial Pt thin films with single-crystalline domains have the added benefit of providing ideal templates for the subsequent growth of heteroepitaxial structures. Here, we grow epitaxial Pt (111) electrodes (ca. 30 nm thick) on sapphire (α-Al 2 O 3 (0001)) substrates with pulsed laser deposition. This versatile technique allows control of the growth process and fabrication of films with carefully tailored parameters. X-ray scattering, atomic-force microscopy, and electron microscopy provide structural characterization of the films. Various gaseous atmospheres and temperatures were explored to achieve epitaxial growth of films with low roughness. A two-step (500 °C/300 °C) growth process was developed, yielding films with improved epitaxy without compromising roughness. The resulting films possess ultrasmooth interfaces (<3 Å) and high electrical conductivity (6.9 × 10 6 S/m). Finally, Pt films were used as current collectors and templates to grow lithium manganese oxide (LiMn 2 O 4 (111)) epitaxial thin films, a cathode material used in Li-ion batteries. In conclusion, using a solid-state ionogel electrolyte, the films were highly stable when electrochemically cycled in the 3.5-4.3 V vs Li/Li + range.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2019

Local Structure and Electronic State of Atomically Dispersed Pt Supported on Nanosized CeO 2

Single atom catalysts (SACs) have shown high activity and selectivity in a growing number of chemical reactions. Many efforts aimed at unveiling the structure–property relationships underpinning these activities and developing synthesis methods for obtaining SACs with the desired structures are hindered by the paucity of experimental methods capable of probing the attributes of local structure, electronic properties, and interaction with support—features that comprise key descriptors of their activity. Here in this work, we describe a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches that include photon and electron spectroscopy, scattering, and imaging methods, linked by density functional theory calculations, for providing detailed and comprehensive information on the atomic structure and electronic properties of SACs. This characterization toolbox is demonstrated here using a model single atom Pt/CeO 2 catalyst prepared via a sol–gel-based synthesis method. Isolated Pt atoms together with extra oxygen atoms passivate the (100) surface of nanosized ceria. A detailed picture of the local structure of Pt nearest environment emerges from this work involving the bonding of isolated Pt 2+ ions at the hollow sites of perturbed (100) surface planes of the CeO 2 support, as well as a substantial (and heretofore unrecognized) strain within the CeO 2 lattice in the immediate vicinity of the Pt centers. The detailed information on structural attributes provided by our approach is the key for understanding and improving the properties of SACs.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2019

Adhesion Energies of Solvent Films to Pt(111) and Ni(111) Surfaces by Adsorption Calorimetry

Solvent/metal adhesion energies are vital to understanding solvent effects on adsorption energies, which are, in turn, central to understanding liquid-phase catalysis, electrocatalysis, and many other technologies such as adsorption-based separations and chemical sensors. Differences in reactant adsorption energies in different solvents are dominated by differences in their solvent/metal adhesion energies. Here, the adhesion energies of five liquid solvents to clean Pt(111) and Ni(111) surfaces have been estimated using ultrahigh vacuum calorimetric measurements of heats of adsorption versus coverage integrated from zero coverage up to thick (bulk-like) multilayer solid films. The adhesion energies are found to vary from 0.15 to 0.60 J/m 2 , increasing in the trend CH 3 OH < HCOOH < H 2 O < benzene ≈ phenol. This trend suggests that solvents with higher heats of adsorption per unit area in the first adsorbed layer have higher adhesion energies to a given metal surface. The adhesion energies to Ni(111) are generally larger than to Pt(111) (on average by 0.09 J/m 2 ). This is due to the 24% higher number of metal atoms per unit area on Ni(111) than on Pt(111) and, with oxygen-containing solvents, the greater oxophilicity of Ni compared to that of Pt.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2020

A Novel Magnetic Material by Design: Observation of Yb 3+ with Spin-1/2 in Yb x Pt 5 P

The localized f-electrons enrich the magnetic properties in rare-earth-based intermetallics. Among those, compounds with heavier 4d and 5d transition metals are even more fascinating because anomalous electronic properties may be induced by the hybridization of 4f and itinerant conduction electrons primarily from the d orbitals. Here, we describe the observation of trivalent Yb 3+ with S = 1/2 at low temperatures in Yb x Pt 5 P, the first of a new family of materials. Yb x Pt 5 P (0.23 ≤ x ≤ 0.96) phases were synthesized and structurally characterized. They exhibit a large homogeneity width with the Yb ratio exclusively occupying the 1a site in the anti-CeCoIn 5 structure. Moreover, a sudden resistivity drop could be found in Yb x Pt 5 P below ~0.6 K, which requires further investigation. First-principles electronic structure calculations substantiate the antiferromagnetic ground state and indicate that two-dimensional nesting around the Fermi level may give rise to exotic physical properties, such as superconductivity. Yb x Pt 5 P appears to be a unique case among materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2025

Comparing Intrinsic Catalytic Activity and Practical Performance of Ni- and Pt-Based Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer Cathodes

The stringent cost and performance requirements of renewable hydrogen production systems dictate that electrolyzers benefit from the use of nonprecious catalysts only if they deliver the same level of activity and durability as their precious metal counterparts. Here we report on recent work to understand interrelationships between the intrinsic activity of Ni- and Pt-based electrolyzer cathode catalysts and their performance in zero-gap alkaline water electrolyzer assemblies. Our results suggest that nanoparticulate Ni–Mo exhibits HER activity that is roughly 10-fold lower than Pt–Ru on the basis of turnover frequency under low (≤100 mV) polarization conditions. We further found that the HER activity of Ni–Mo/C cathodes is inhibited by aryl piperidinium anionexchange ionomers bearing bicarbonate counter-anions. After addressing this poisoning effect, we produced electrolyzer assemblies based on Ni–Mo/C cathodes that delivered indistinguishable current density vs cell potential relationships compared to otherwise identical assemblies with Pt–Ru cathodes. This result indicates that the contribution of the cathode to the total cell polarization is small, even for the less active Ni–Mo/C catalyst, and further implies that Pt-based cathodes can indeed be replaced by nonprecious alternatives with no loss in performance.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2014

Pt II -Catalyzed Hydrophenylation of α-Olefins: Variation of Linear/Branched Products as a Function of Ligand Donor Ability

The Pt II complexes [( x bpy)Pt(Ph)(THF)] + (xbpy = 4,4'-X 2 -2,2'-bipyridyl; x = OMe (1a), t Bu (1b), H (1c), Br (1d), CO 2 Et (1e) and NO2 (1f)] catalyze the formation of n-propylbenzene and cumene from benzene and propene. The catalysts are selective for branched products, and the cumene:n-propylbenzene ratio decreases with increasing donor ability of the xbpy ligand. DFT calculations predict more favorable activation barriers for 1,2-insertion into the Pt-Ph bond to give branched products. The calculations suggest that 1,2-insertion of propene should be faster than 2,1-insertion for all Pt(II) catalysts studied, yet they also indicate that cumene:n-propylbenzene selectivity is under Curtin-Hammett control.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2015

Theoretical Investigation of the Reaction Mechanism of the Guaiacol Hydrogenation over a Pt(111) Catalyst

The reaction mechanism of the mild hydrogenation of guaiacol over Pt(111) has been investigated by density functional theory calculations and microkinetic modeling. Our model suggests that at 573 K, catechol is the preferred reaction product and that any deoxygenation to, for example, phenol or benzene is at least 4 orders of magnitude slower than the production of catechol. Slow deoxygenation of guaiacol can occur by decarbonylation and possibly by hydrogenation of the phenyl ring followed by C–OH bond cleavage. Direct –OH removal without activation of the phenyl ring is found to be at least 5 orders of magnitude slower. Altogether, this study suggests that Pt(111) sites are not active deoxygenation sites and that the experimentally observed deoxygenation activity of Pt catalysts originates likely from the involvement of the catalyst support or Pt step and corner sites.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2011

The Atomic Structural Dynamics of γ-Al 2 O 3 Supported Ir–Pt Nanocluster Catalysts Prepared from a Bimetallic Molecular Precursor: A Study Using Aberration-Corrected Electron Microscopy and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

This study describes a prototypical, bimetallic heterogeneous catalyst: compositionally well-defined Ir–Pt nanoclusters with sizes in the range of 1–2 nm supported on γ-Al 2 O 3 . Deposition of the molecular bimetallic cluster [Ir 3 Pt 3 (μ-CO) 3 (CO) 3 (η-C 5 Me 5 ) 3 ] on γ-Al 2 O 3 , and its subsequent reduction with hydrogen, provides highly dispersed supported bimetallic Ir–Pt nanoparticles. Using spherical aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (Cs-STEM) and theoretical modeling of synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements, our studies provide unambiguous structural assignments for this model catalytic system. The atomic resolution Cs-STEM images reveal strong and specific lattice-directed strains in the clusters that follow local bonding configurations of the γ-Al 2 O 3 support. Combined nanobeam diffraction (NBD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) data suggest the polycrystalline γ-Al 2 O 3 support material predominantly exposes (001) and (011) surface planes (ones commensurate with the zone axis orientations frequently exhibited by the bimetallic clusters). Here, the data reveal that the supported bimetallic clusters exhibit complex patterns of structural dynamics, ones evidencing perturbations of an underlying oblate/hemispherical cuboctahedral cluster–core geometry with cores that are enriched in Ir (a result consistent with models based on surface energetics, which favor an ambient cluster termination by Pt) due to the dynamical responses of the M–M bonding to the specifics of the adsorbate and metal–support interactions. Taken together, the data demonstrate that strong temperature-dependent charge-transfer effects occur that are likely mediated variably by the cluster–support, cluster–adsorbate, and intermetallic bonding interactions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2011

Mixed-Metal Pt Monolayer Electrocatalysts with Improved CO Tolerance

Using a combination of periodic, self-consistent, density functional theory (DFT) calculations and COstripping voltammetry experiments, we have designed a new class of Pt-M bimetallic monolayer catalysts supported on a non-Pt metal, which exhibit improved stability against CO poisoning and might be suitable for proton-exchange membrane fuel cell anodes. These surfaces help in reducing the overpotential associated with anodic CO oxidation and minimize the amount of Pt used, thereby reducing materials cost. DFT calculations predict highly repulsive interactions between adsorbed CO molecules on these surfaces, leading to weaker binding and lower coverage of CO than on pure Pt, which in turn facilitates oxidative removal of CO from these catalytic surfaces.

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗

DOE OSTI2025

What Makes Au Nanospheres Superior to Octahedral and Cubic Counterparts for the Deposition of a Pt Monolayer Shell?

This study demonstrates that Au nanospheres are advantageous over their octahedral and cubic counterparts as seeds in the synthesis of Au@Pt core−shell nanocrystals with a monolayer shell. In combination with experimental characterization, we show through training a machine-learned interatomic potential that the Au nanospheres exhibit a large fraction of lowcoordination atoms which are uniformly distributed over the surface. The corresponding high-index facets, including {211}, {311}, {331}, {210}, and {310}, on a spherical seed promote nucleation while greatly shortening the diffusion distance for adatoms. In addition, the high-index facets are instrumental in retaining the deposited Pt atoms on the outermost surface by retarding their inter-diffusional exchange with the underlying Au atoms. By switching from a monolayer made of pure Pt to those made of Pt−Au alloys, we can optimize both the activity and selectivity of the nanocrystals toward the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction for the electrochemical synthesis of H 2 O 2 . This method should be extendible to the fabrication of other core−shell nanocatalysts with desired monolayer shells for various catalytic reactions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2025

To Substitute Rather Than Intercalate: Chimie douce Approach to Induce Ferromagnetism in Metastable Pt 0.8 M 0.2 Se 2 ( M = Cr, Co, Ni)

Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials with exotic magnetic properties have garnered significant interest due to their potential applications in spintronics and data storage technologies. However, the limited availability of intrinsic 2D magnetic materials has driven efforts to induce and manipulate magnetism in otherwise nonmagnetic 2D systems through approaches such as chemical intercalation, defect engineering, and substitutional doping. Herein, we present a facile, chimie douce method for incorporating 3d transition metals (Cr, Co, and Ni) into the nonmagnetic PtSe 2 sublattice. This synthetic approach enables control over layer thickness of Pt 1–x M x Se 2 (M = Cr, Co, Ni) nanosheets by varying the M identity and annealing conditions. Comprehensive scattering and spectroscopic characterizations confirm the successful and homogeneous substitution of M atoms at the Pt site, rather than intercalation, and reveal a strong correlation between nanosheet thickness and the identity of the substituting metal. High-temperature annealing of the nanosheets promotes an irreversible transformation toward the bulk phase, allowing for detailed characterization of structural and magnetic properties. A case study of Pt 0.8 Cr 0.2 Se 2 reveals that nanosheet thickness plays a critical role in modulating local magnetic interactions. While Cr atoms in the as-synthesized few-layers-thick nanosheets exhibit predominantly short-range antiferromagnetic interactions, the emergence of short-range ferromagnetic exchange is revealed in the bulk material. Detailed ac susceptibility and remanent magnetization measurements further demonstrate that bulk Pt 0.8 Cr 0.2 Se 2 adopts a frustrated magnetic ground state with clear signatures of ferromagnetic cluster-glass behavior. The systematic investigation presented herein establishes a clear and robust protocol for the synthesis and in-depth characterization of 2D transition-metal-substituted PtSe2 materials with varying layer thickness and paves a path toward their realization in spintronic and magnetic device applications.

crystallinity↗

DOE OSTI2017

Synthesis of Pt 3 Y and Other Early–Late Intermetallic Nanoparticles by Way of a Molten Reducing Agent

Early–late intermetallic phases have garnered increased attention recently for their catalytic properties. To achieve the high surface areas needed for industrially relevant applications, these phases must be synthesized as nanoparticles in a scalable fashion. Herein, Pt 3 Y—targeted as a prototypical example of an early–late intermetallic—has been synthesized as nanoparticles approximately 5–20 nm in diameter via a solution process and characterized by XRD, TEM, EDS, and XPS. The key development is the use of a molten borohydride (MEt 3 BH, M = Na, K) as both the reducing agent and reaction medium. Readily available halide precursors of the two metals are used. Accordingly, no organic ligands are necessary, as the resulting halide salt byproduct prevents sintering, which further permits dispersion of the nanoscale intermetallic onto a support. The versatility of this approach was validated by the synthesis of other intermetallic phases such as Pt 3 Sc, Pt 3 Lu, Pt 2 Na, and Au 2 Y.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2015

Pt-Zn Clusters on Stoichiometric MgO(100) and TiO2(110): Dramatically Different Sintering Behavior

Zn was suggested to be a promising additive to Pt in the catalysis of dehydrogenation reactions. In this work, mixed Pt-Zn clusters deposited on two simple oxides, MgO(100) and TiO2(110), were investigated. The stability of these systems against cluster sintering, one of the major mechanisms of catalyst deactivation, is simulated using a Metropolis Monte Carlo scheme under the assumption of the Ostwald ripening mechanism. Particle migration, association to and dissociation from clusters, and evaporation and redeposition of monomers were all included in the simulations. Simulations are done at several high temperatures relevant to reactions of catalytic dehydrogenation. The effect of temperature is included via both the Metropolis algorithm and the Boltzmann-weighted populations of the global and thermally accessible local minima on the density functional theory potential energy surfaces of clusters of all sizes and compositions up to tetramers. On both surfaces, clusters are shown to sinter quite rapidly. However, the resultant compositions of the clusters most resistant to sintering are quite different on the two supports. On TiO2(110), Pt and Zn appear to phase separate, preferentially forming clusters rich in just one or the other metal. On MgO(100), Pt and Zn remain well-mixed and form a range of bimetallic clusters of various compositions that appear relatively stable. However, Zn is more easily lost from MgO through evaporation. These phenomena were rationalized by several means of chemical bonding analysis.

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗

DOE OSTI2012

Nanofaceted C/Re(11$\bar{21}$): Fabrication, structure, and template for synthesizing nanostructured model Pt electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Here, we report the first observation of carbon-induced nanofaceting of a Re single crystal and its application in synthesizing a nanostructured. model Pt electrocatalyst investigated using multiple surface science techniques, including low:energy electron diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, low-energy ion scattering, and scanning tunneling microscopy, combined with electrochemical reaction measurements. Upon annealing In acetylene at 700 K followed by annealing in vacuum at 1100 K, an Initially planar Re(11$\overline{2}$1) surface becomes completely faceted and covered with three-sided nanopyramids exposing ($1\overline{1}1$), ($10\overline{1}1$), and ($11\overline{2}0$) faces. Using the faceted C/Re($11\overline{2}1$) surface as a template, we have successfully fabricated a nanostructured Pt monolayer (ML) electrocatalyst. The Pt ML supported on the C/Re nanotemplate exhibits higher activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction than Pt(111). This is the first application of faceted metal surfaces as templates for synthesis of nanoscale model electrocatalyst with well-defined (facet) surface structure and controlled (facet) size on the nanometer scale, illustrating the potential for future studies of nanostructured bimetallic systems relevant to electrocatalytic reactions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗