Weakened oxygen adsorbing the Pt-O bond of the Pt catalyst induced by vacancy introduction into carbon support

Okazaki, Hiroyuki*; Idesaki, Akira*; Koshikawa, Hiroshi*; Matsumura, Daiju   ; Ikeda, Takashi*; Yamamoto, Shunya*; Yamaki, Tetsuya*

The change in the oxygen adsorption states of Pt nanoparticles by ion irradiation of the carbon support is studied by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements. The difference spectra around a Pt L edge due to oxygen adsorption are recorded, and a lowering in the Pt-O antibonding level by the ion irradiation is observed, thus resulting in a weakening of the Pt-O bond. This indicates that the introduction of vacancies in the carbon support would result in weak Pt-O bonds assumable through the stronger Pt-C interaction, which is considered to enhance the oxygen reduction reaction activity of the deposited Pt nanoparticles. Theoretical studies have demonstrated that the vacancies affect Pt through the Pt-C interaction and then result in the weakening of the Pt-O bond.