Generation and Stabilization of Small Platinum Clusters Pt Inside a Metal-Organic Framework.

The generation and matrix stabilization of ligand-free, small platinum nanoclusters (NCs) Pt is presented. The metal-organic framework-template approach is based on encapsulating CO-ligated, atom-precise Pt Chini clusters [{Pt(CO)}] into the zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-8. The selective formation of the air-stable inclusion compound [NBu][{Pt(CO)}]@ZIF-8 of defined atomicity Pt and with Pt loadings of 1-20 wt % was monitored by UV/vis and IR spectroscopy and was confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD).

Optimizing the Size of Platinum Nanoparticles for Enhanced Mass Activity in the Electrochemical Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

High oxygen reduction (ORR) activity has been for many years considered as the key to many energy applications. Herein, by combining theory and experiment we prepare Pt nanoparticles with optimal size for the efficient ORR in proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells. Optimal nanoparticle sizes are predicted near 1, 2, and 3 nm by computational screening.