Issue 42, 2015

Modular construction of size-selected multiple-core Pt–TiO2 nanoclusters for electro-catalysis

Abstract

Size-selected binary platinum–titanium dioxide (Pt–TiO2) clusters have been generated using a magnetron sputtering gas condensation cluster source and imaged using a Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM) in High Angle Annular Dark Field (HAADF) mode. The core–shell clusters exhibit a Pt core of preferred size 30 ± 6 atoms (1 nm), embedded in an oxidised Ti shell, independent of the overall cluster size (varied between 2 nm and 5 nm). Smaller clusters, with mass ≤50 000 Daltons, show a single Pt core while larger clusters, ≥55 000 Daltons, feature multiple Pt cores, either isolated or aggregated within the TiO2 shell. These clusters may have applications in solar hydrogen production; preliminary work indicates catalytic active in the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Graphical abstract: Modular construction of size-selected multiple-core Pt–TiO2 nanoclusters for electro-catalysis

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
16 Jan 2015
Accepted
03 Mar 2015
First published
04 Mar 2015
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015,17, 28005-28009

Author version available

Modular construction of size-selected multiple-core Pt–TiO2 nanoclusters for electro-catalysis

C. E. Blackmore, N. V. Rees and R. E. Palmer, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015, 17, 28005 DOI: 10.1039/C5CP00285K

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