Sputtering Pt onto PEG to make fuel-cell catalysts

Pt sputtered onto liquid PEG, then heat-transferred onto carbon, gives bimodal nanoparticles whose larger population drives ORR activity.

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How were the supported Pt catalysts made?

Sputtering Pt onto a liquid substrate plus a heating step to attach particles to carbon.

What size distribution resulted on carbon?

Bimodal: larger 6.7 ± 1.8 nm particles dominate ORR over 2.5 ± 0.8 nm particles.

Which liquid substrate was used for sputtering?

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG).

How was electrochemical surface area obtained?

CO stripping, integrating the CO oxidation peak versus 420 μC/cm² Pt.

What specific charge was assumed for a CO monolayer on Pt?

420 μC/cm² Pt.

How did heat treatment change primary particle size?

From a single 1.8 nm population to bimodal 2.5 and 6.7 nm particles.

Onto which carbon were particles transferred?

Vulcan XC 72.

What RHE offset was measured for the reference electrode?

0.720 V vs RHE.

How many particles were sized by TEM?

Over 150 particles per sample, by hand in ImageJ.

What electrolyte was used for RDE work?

0.1 M HClO4.

Why did particles grow on carbon during heating?

The carbon support participates in the reducing PEG environment.