Heterometallic Carbonyl Cluster Precursors Heterometallic molecular cluster precursor - mediate transport and growth of nanoscale bimetallic particles Use PtRu 5 C(CO) 16 as a precursor for carbon-supported [PtRu 5 ] nanoparticles Carbon Black H2H2 673K, 1h [PtRu 5 ] CO + CH 4 ? ca. 200 m 2 /g Characterize: Microstructure of the resulting nanometer sized alloy phases - X-ray spectroscopy - electron microscopy
Figure 1. Si(111) cyrstal bender (D. Adler) Figure 2. Catalyst cell for in-situ EXAFS data collection Figure 3. Experimental set-up in the X16C “hutch” for in situ X- ray absorption spectroscopy. Includes in situ catalyst cell, gas supply manifold, x-ray detectors, andx-y-z translator.
Experimental Details After depositing and activating the cluster precursor (1h under H 2 ), in situ extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data was collected on the X16C beamline (Scheme 2) at the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY (Fig. 1). The beamline utilized a state-of-the-art focusing crystal and catalyst cell (Fig. 2-3). Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) experiments were carried out on a Vacuum Generators HB501 located at the Center for Microanalysis of Materials at the Materials Research Laboratory, Urbana, IL.
20 nm On the right is a sample dark field micrograph of [PtRu 5 ]/C. From these micrographs, a particle size distribution can be obtained (shown on the left). The size distribution is also compared with an average first-shell coordination derived from a model (cuboctahedron) nanocluster. Electron Microscopy
The upper images are sample bright (right) and dark (left) field micrographs of supported [PtRu 5 ] nanoclusters. Below, are sample energy dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX) spectra taken on the carbon support (2) and sample nanocluster (1). Since EDAX is a sensitive to individual elements as well as the amount of these elements present, the composition of individual nanoparticles can be obtained nm 1 2 Cu Ru Cu Pt Ru 1 2 Pt At. % Ru: 83 % At. % Pt: 17% Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis
a z=[112] b c 200 z=[011] d Using microdiffraction, the structure of individual nanoparticles can be studied. Here, we show 2 sample diffraction patterns showing an fcc structure. ElectronMicrodiffraction
673 KH2H2 473 KH2H2 CO Temperature programmed reduction of a Pt-Ru nanoparticle with structure determined from Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS). On the left are the EXAFS spectra during the temperature evolution. On the left is a schematic representation of the nucleation and growth of the nanoclusters.
Temperature (K) Energy Shift (eV) This technique shows the nucleation and growth of metallic particles from the molecular precursors. On the left are sample spectra taken at increasing temperature. We see a decrease in the white line intensity as well as a shift of peak position to a more metallic state. This shift is better seen in the plot on the left which shows the energy shift towards the metallic state (0 eV) as temperature increases. X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES)
r (Å) Multiple shell fit of the Pt L3 and Ru K- edge EXAFS data for [PtRu 5 ]/C. The tables show the coordination number and bond distances derived from this fit procedure. Multiple Shell Fit
Conclusions Supported bimetallic nanoclusters with exceptionally narrow size (ca 1.5 nm) and compositional (1:5) distributions were prepared using a Pt-Ru molecular cluster precursor. The structure of the resulting nanoclusters was characterized with in situ EXAFS, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and electron microprobe methods. The local environment of the Pt, as evidenced by EXAFS, indicates the formation of a close-packed structure in which the Pt resides preferentially in more ordered Ru metal lattice sites. In support of the EXAFS, microdiffraction results indicate the formation of fcc microstructure which is different from the structure extrapolated from the solid state, i.e, hcp. Future work is aimed at probing the nanocluster microstructure with in situ EXAFS in an operational fuel cell.