Single Platinum Atoms Electrocatalysts: Oxygen Reduction and Hydrogen Oxidation Reactions

Atomically dispersed catalyst consisting of Pt atoms arranged in a c(2 × 2) array on RuO2(110) substrate was prepared. A large interatomic distance of Pt atoms in a c(2 × 2) phase precludes the reactants to interact with more than one Pt atoms. A strong bond of Pt atoms with RuO2 prevents agglomeration of Pt atoms to form 2D-islands or 3D-clusters. Activities of single Pt atom catalyst for the oxygen reduction and hydrogen oxidation reactions were determined and compared with those of bulk Pt. It has lower catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction and similar activity for hydrogen oxidation reaction compared to Pt(111). This was explained by a large calculated up-shift of the d-band center of Pt atoms and larger Pt-Pt interatomic distance than that of Pt(111). This information is of considerable interest for further development of electrocatalysis. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License