Preparation of platinum nanoparticle catalysts using ion-beam-induced lattice defects in carbon supports, 2; Local structure analysis

Kimata, Tetsuya*; Yamaki, Tetsuya; Yamamoto, Shunya; Matsumura, Daiju; Shimoyama, Iwao; Terai, Takayuki*; Iwase, Akihiro*; Fujimura, Yuki*; Kobayashi, Tomohiro*; Hakoda, Teruyuki

no journal, , 

Carbon-supported platinum (Pt) nanoparticles have been studied intensively for applications to oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. The Pt nanoparticles on the Ar-ion-irradiated glassy carbon (GC) substrate were previously found to have improved ORR activity. We analyzed here the local structure by XAFS measurements to clarify the mechanism of the Pt-C bonding at the Pt/GC interface, which could contribute to the observed high ORR activity. EXAFS of Pt L edge demonstrated that the Pt-Pt bond length in the Pt nanoparticles was shorter on the Ar-ion-irradiated GC substrate than on the non-irradiated one. Therefore, the formation of Pt-C bonding would modify the structure of the Pt nanoparticles, thereby improving the ORR activity of the Pt nanoparticles.