Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
12:12
On the Preparation and Testing of Fuel Cell Catalysts Using the Thin Film Rotating Disk Electrode Method
Published on: March 16, 2018
Characterisation of platinum-based fuel cell catalyst materials using 195Pt wideline solid state NMR
Gregory J Rees1, Simon T Orr, Laurence O Barrett
1Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. j.v.hanna@warwick.ac.uk.
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP
|September 10, 2013
Summary
The novel Field Sweep Fourier Transform (FSFT) method accurately analyzes platinum (Pt) nanoparticles and alloys using (195)Pt NMR. This technique provides detailed surface and size information, outperforming older methods for catalysis research.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy
Background:
- Platinum nanoparticles and alloys are crucial catalysts in fuel cells for oxidative processes.
- Accurate characterization of nanoparticle size and surface structure is essential for understanding catalytic activity.
- Traditional NMR methods for (195)Pt present challenges in data acquisition and analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the utility of the Field Sweep Fourier Transform (FSFT) method for wideline (195)Pt NMR.
- To characterize various Pt nanoparticles, Pt-Sn intermetallics/bimetallics, and Pt3X alloys for catalytic applications.
- To compare the FSFT technique with existing methods like Spin Echo Height Spectroscopy (SEHS).
Main Methods:
- Acquisition of wideline (195)Pt NMR data using the novel FSFT method.
- Analysis of NMR lineshapes from PtSn intermetallic and Pt3Sn bimetallic systems.
- Characterization of small Pt13 nanoclusters using (195)Pt NMR.
Main Results:
- The FSFT method accurately determines Pt nanoparticle size and surface atom distribution.
- NMR data suggests PtSn intermetallics and Pt3Sn bimetallics exhibit higher order compared to other bimetallic alloys.
- The study provides the first (195)Pt NMR characterization of diamagnetic Pt13 nanoclusters, enabling direct measurement of isotropic chemical shift.
Conclusions:
- The FSFT technique offers significant advantages over SEHS for (195)Pt NMR data acquisition.
- Detailed structural information from FSFT NMR aids in understanding catalytic mechanisms in fuel cells.
- The characterization of Pt13 nanoclusters provides new insights into the electronic properties of small, non-metallic Pt clusters.
