Mass-selected nanoparticles of PtxY as model catalysts for oxygen electroreduction.

Low-temperature fuel cells are limited by the oxygen reduction reaction, and their widespread implementation in automotive vehicles is hindered by the cost of platinum, currently the best-known catalyst for reducing oxygen in terms of both activity and stability. One solution is to decrease the amount of platinum required, for example by alloying, but without detrimentally affecting its properties. The alloy PtxY is known to be active and stable, but its synthesis in nanoparticulate form has proved challenging, which limits its further study.

Self-sustained carbon monoxide oxidation oscillations on size-selected platinum nanoparticles at atmospheric pressure.

High-quality mass spectrometry data of the oscillatory behavior of CO oxidation on SiO(2) supported Pt-nanoparticles at atmospheric pressure have been acquired as a function of pressure, coverage, gas composition and nanoparticle size. The oscillations are self-sustained for several days at constant temperature, pressure and CO/O(2) ratio. The frequency of the oscillations is very well defined and increases over time.