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Particle size and substrate effects in electrocatalysis

Particle size and substrate effects in electrocatalysis
Particle size and substrate effects in electrocatalysis

A novel high throughput technique has been developed for the investigation of the influence of supported metal particle size on electrocatalytic activity.  This technique was based on a physical vapour deposition (PVD) and has been applied to the synthesis of libraries of supported gold particles on amorphous sub-stoichiometric TiOx and carbon supports.  Array electrodes with a gradation of catalyst particle sizes are fabricated on the different support materials.  Simultaneous electrochemical measurements at all electrodes in the array, together with determination of the actual particle size distribution on each of the electrodes by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), then allows rapid determination of the activity as a function of particle size and support.

The reduction of oxygen on gold nano-particles supported on the two support materials was studied, as well as on polycrystalline gold, and the conclusions were verified using voltammetry at rotating disc electrodes.  At particle sizes below 3 nm, a rapid decay of the catalytic activity for oxygen reduction on both supports was observed.

The electrooxidation of carbon monoxide on titania and carbon supported gold nanoparticles, as well as polycrystalline gold, was studied in acidic media.  For the first time evidence for modified properties of metal nanoparticles through support interactions is presented, as well as a particle size effect on the oxide support. Particles supported on carbon were found to behave similarly to polycrystalline gold, while the titania supported nanoparticles showed a decrease in overpotential of almost 200 mV for CO oxidation.  The variation of particle size revealed that the maximum enhancement in activity on this oxide support is evident at particles of the diameter of 2.5 to 2.6 nm.

University of Southampton
Suchsland, Jens-Peter
b274e089-34e8-4d97-ae11-085e7c1490ef
Suchsland, Jens-Peter
b274e089-34e8-4d97-ae11-085e7c1490ef

Suchsland, Jens-Peter (2007) Particle size and substrate effects in electrocatalysis. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

A novel high throughput technique has been developed for the investigation of the influence of supported metal particle size on electrocatalytic activity.  This technique was based on a physical vapour deposition (PVD) and has been applied to the synthesis of libraries of supported gold particles on amorphous sub-stoichiometric TiOx and carbon supports.  Array electrodes with a gradation of catalyst particle sizes are fabricated on the different support materials.  Simultaneous electrochemical measurements at all electrodes in the array, together with determination of the actual particle size distribution on each of the electrodes by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), then allows rapid determination of the activity as a function of particle size and support.

The reduction of oxygen on gold nano-particles supported on the two support materials was studied, as well as on polycrystalline gold, and the conclusions were verified using voltammetry at rotating disc electrodes.  At particle sizes below 3 nm, a rapid decay of the catalytic activity for oxygen reduction on both supports was observed.

The electrooxidation of carbon monoxide on titania and carbon supported gold nanoparticles, as well as polycrystalline gold, was studied in acidic media.  For the first time evidence for modified properties of metal nanoparticles through support interactions is presented, as well as a particle size effect on the oxide support. Particles supported on carbon were found to behave similarly to polycrystalline gold, while the titania supported nanoparticles showed a decrease in overpotential of almost 200 mV for CO oxidation.  The variation of particle size revealed that the maximum enhancement in activity on this oxide support is evident at particles of the diameter of 2.5 to 2.6 nm.

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Published date: 2007

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Local EPrints ID: 466239
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/466239
PURE UUID: 6493310d-4c18-4d26-8b08-66f2b3faa9be

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Date deposited: 05 Jul 2022 04:54
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 20:35

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Author: Jens-Peter Suchsland

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