Electronic Structure of Heteronuclear Cerium-Platinum Clusters.

Beyond the now well-known strong catalyst-support interactions reported for ceria-supported platinum catalysts, intermetallic Ce-Pt compounds exhibit fascinating properties such as heavy fermion behavior and magnetic instability. Small heterometallic Ce-Pt clusters, which can provide insights into the local features that govern bulk phenomena, have been less explored. Herein, the anion photoelectron spectra of three small mixed Ce-Pt clusters, CeOPt, CePt, and CePt, are presented and interpreted with supporting density functional theory calculations. The calculations, which are readily reconciled with the experimental spectra, suggest the presence of numerous close-lying spin states, including states in which the Ce 4 electrons are ferromagnetically coupled or antiferromagnetically coupled. The Pt center is consistently in a nominal -2 charge state in all cluster neutrals and anions, giving the Ce-Pt bond ionic character. Ce-Pt bonds are stronger than Ce-Ce bonds, and the O atom in CeOPt coordinates only with the Ce centers. The energy of the singly occupied Ce-local 4 orbitals relative to the Pt-local orbitals changes with cluster composition. Discussion of the results includes potential implications for Ce-rich intermetallic materials.