Atomic-scale Characterization of Platinum Nanoparticles Deposited on C60 Fullerene Nanowhiskers and Related Carbon Nanomaterials

Abstract

Pt nanoparticles are the most widely used catalysts for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). Recently, a simple physical vapor deposition method named coaxial arc plasma deposition (CAPD) has been developed for the preparation of Pt NPs for PEFCs. Using the CAPD method, we deposited Pt NPs on various carbon substrates such as C60 fullerene nanowhiskers, graphite particles and glassy carbon substrates, and studied the crystal structure of the deposited Pt NPs using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The Pt NPs deposited by using CAPD were found to be anisotropically strained. The anisotropic straining of Pt NPs was also observed in the commercial Pt NPs chemically deposited on carbon black (CB) particles. This chapter compares the lattice straining of the Pt NPs that has been known to strongly influence the catalytic activity of Pt NPs in PEFC on the atomic scale. Statistical analyses of the Pt NP-CB adhesion facets were also investigated to understand the influence of the CB surface on the crystal structure of Pt NPs. By analyzing the results of the study, we concluded that Pt NPs are spontaneously strained and hardly influenced by the CB particle substrates.