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Title: Nitrogen functionalized carbon black: A support for Pt nanoparticle catalysts with narrow size dispersion and high surface area

Journal Article · · Carbon
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA (United States)
  2. Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Energy Efficient Materials (CEEM); Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA (United States)

Amorphous carbon is widely used as a support for Pt nanoparticle catalysts. We show here that catalytic performance can be greatly improved by functionalizing the carbon support with a nitrogen-containing molecule, in conjunction with a new method for the in situ synthesis of nanocrystalline Pt. Vulcan® carbon black is covalently functionalized with 4-aminomethylpyridine (4AMP) via formation of an acid chloride on the surface followed by amidation. The resulting 4AMP-functionalized Vulcan® (4AMP-VC) was thoroughly characterized and shown to contain N at the surface of the Vulcan® carbon support. We note Pt nanoparticles grown on the 4AMP-VC have a smaller average size and much narrower size distribution than Pt nanoparticles grown on bare Vulcan® (VC). In addition, the Pt/4AMP-VC catalysts show higher catalytic activity and are more durable than their Pt/VC counterparts. We infer through careful analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectra that the Pt nanoparticles bind preferentially to the pyridinic nitrogen of the 4AMP.

Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Energy Efficient Materials (CEEM); Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); National Science Foundation (NSF); US Army Research Office (ARO)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0001009; CHE-1213950; W9111NF-09-0001; DMR-1121053
OSTI ID:
1369770
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1355791
Journal Information:
Carbon, Vol. 81, Issue C; Related Information: CEEM partners with the University of California, Santa Barbara (lead); Purdue University; Los Alamos National Laboratory; National Renewable Energy Laboratory; ISSN 0008-6223
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 17 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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