Morphology, chemical state of nanometric-sized Pt–Cu and Pt–Ag particles, and their photocatalytic activity for mineralization of methanol

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology 2014-02, Vol.16 (2), p.1-12, Article 2249
• Main Authors: Papa, Florica, Miyazaki, Akane, Scurtu, Mariana, Ianculescu, Adelina C., Balint, Ioan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACTIVITY; BIMETALS; Carbon dioxide; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Experimental methods; Inorganic Chemistry; Lasers; Low-dimensional structures (superlattices, quantum well structures, multilayers): structure, and nonelectronic properties; Materials Science; Methanol; Methyl alcohol; MICA; Mineralization; Morphology; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanoparticles; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanotechnology; Optical Devices; Optics; PARTICLES; Photochemicals; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Platinum; Pollution control; Research Paper; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); TITANIUM DIOXIDE; X RAY SPECTROSCOPY; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-014-2249-x

Nanometric-sized bimetallic Pt–Cu and Pt–Ag nanoparticles protected with PVP were synthesized using a modified protocol of the alkaline polyol method. The nanoparticles were characterized using a series of experimental methods (TEM, XPS, and XRD) to elucidate their morphology, structure, and chemical state. The Pt–Cu powder consisted of nanoparticles with well-defined spherical morphology and a mean diameter of 2.8 nm. In the case of the Pt–Ag system, the small nanoparticles of around 2 nm showed an interesting tendency to assemble in 1D structure, generally with a filament-like morphology. The Pt–Cu and Pt–Ag nanoparticles supported on TiO 2 showed good and stable activity for methanol mineralization. The formation of hydrogen along with CO 2 as reaction products suggests that the supported bimetallic nanoparticles are promising materials for energy-oriented applications, as well as for photochemical abatement of organic pollutants.