Catalytic Properties of Platinum Nanoparticles
Summary
Platinum nanoparticles serve as one of the most versatile and widely employed catalysts in chemical transformation, owing to their exceptional activity, selectivity and resistance to deactivation. The catalytic performance of these particles is strongly influenced by size, shape and surface structure: small clusters (below 5 nm) exhibit high proportions of low‐coordination sites that enhance adsorption and activation of reactants, while larger particles offer improved thermal stability. Surface facets and edge sites dictate reaction pathways by altering the binding strength of intermediates. Metal–support interactions further modulate reactivity through electronic perturbation and anchoring effects, thereby tuning activity and durability. Advances in synthetic control enable precise tuning of nanoparticle morphology, composition (including bimetallic systems) and dispersion on supports such as oxides or carbons. Such judicious design underpins breakthroughs in fuel cell electrocatalysis—where Pt nanoparticles dissociate and oxidise hydrogen at the anode—and in fine‐chemical manufacture, where they catalyse selective hydrogenation and oxidation reactions. Emerging operando characterisation has revealed dynamic restructuring of Pt under working conditions, emphasising the importance of real‐time monitoring to understand active sites. Overall, platinum nanoparticles continue to attract global interest for green energy technologies, environmental remediation and sustainable chemical processes.
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Catalytic Properties of Platinum Nanoparticles publication trend
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Technical terms
Hydride: A hydrogen atom chemically bonded to a metal centre, forming a metal–hydrogen species that participates in hydrogenation reactions.
Atop site: A surface site where an adsorbate binds to a single metal atom, often leading to distinct vibrational signatures in spectroscopy.
Bridged site: A surface adsorption site where an adsorbate spans two adjacent metal atoms, influencing activation energies and reaction pathways.
Turnover frequency (TOF): The number of substrate molecules converted per active site per unit time, a key metric of catalytic efficiency.
References
- The Role of In Situ/Operando IR Spectroscopy in Unraveling Adsorbate-Induced Structural Changes in Heterogeneous Catalysis. Chemical Reviews (2023).
- Adsorbed States of Hydrogen on Platinum: A New Perspective. Chemistry - A European Journal (2019).
- Gas phase vs. liquid phase: monitoring H 2 and CO adsorption phenomena on Pt/Al 2 O 3 by IR spectroscopy. Catalysis Science & Technology (2022).
- Identification of hydrogen species on Pt/Al 2 O 3 by in situ inelastic neutron scattering and their reactivity with ethylene. Catalysis Science & Technology (2021).
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