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Sum Frequency Generation Studies of Hydrogenation Reactions on Platinum Nanoparticles

Thesis/Dissertation ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1165014· OSTI ID:1165014
 [1]
  1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sum Frequency Generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy is used to characterize intermediate species of hydrogenation reactions on the surface of platinum nanoparticle catalysts. In contrast to other spectroscopy techniques which operate in ultra-high vacuum or probe surface species after reaction, SFG collects information under normal conditions as the reaction is taking place. Several systems have been studied previously using SFG on single crystals, notably alkene hydrogenation on Pt(111). In this thesis, many aspects of SFG experiments on colloidal nanoparticles are explored for the first time. To address spectral interference by the capping agent (PVP), three procedures are proposed: UV cleaning, H2 induced disordering and calcination (core-shell nanoparticles). UV cleaning and calcination physically destroy organic capping while disordering reduces SFG signal through a reversible structural change by PVP.

Research Organization:
Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1165014
Report Number(s):
LBNL--6474E
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English