Fast Removing Ligands from Platinum-Based Nanocatalysts by a Square-Wave Potential Strategy

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Ligand removal from nanoparticle surfaces is essential for developing effective nanocatalysts.
• Current methods for ligand removal are often inefficient and time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel and highly efficient method for removing ligands from platinum-based nanocatalyst surfaces.
• To investigate the mechanism of ligand removal using the new strategy.

Main Methods:

• Development of a square-wave potential (SWP) strategy for ligand removal.
• Utilizing in situ electrochemical infrared and Raman spectroscopy to study the removal mechanism.
• Testing the SWP strategy on platinum and platinum-based alloy nanocatalysts with various ligands.

Main Results:

• The SWP strategy achieved efficient ligand removal from platinum nanocatalysts in under 1 minute, with 30x higher efficiency than cyclic voltammetry.
• Spectroscopic analysis revealed the formation of Pt-O-NH2R intermediates and subsequent ligand detachment.
• The SWP method demonstrated versatility for different ligands and platinum-based alloy nanocatalysts.

Conclusions:

• The SWP strategy offers a rapid, efficient, and versatile approach for ligand removal from nanocatalysts.
• This method is crucial for ensuring reproducibility and revealing intrinsic catalytic effects.
• The findings pave the way for cleaner nanocatalysts in various applications.