Catalytic Properties of Pt Cluster-Decorated CeO2 Nanostructures

Uniform clusters of Pt have been deposited on the surface of capping-agent-free CeO2 nanooctahedra and nanorods using electron beam (e-beam) evaporation. The coverage of the Pt nanocluster layer can be controlled by adjusting the e-beam evaporation time. The resulting e-beam evaporated Pt nanocluster layers on the CeO2 surfaces have a clean surface and clean interface between Pt and CeO2. Different growth behaviors of Pt on the two types of CeO2 nanocrystals were observed, with epitaxial growth of Pt on CeO2 nanooctahedra and random growth of Pt on CeO2 nanorods. The structures of the Pt clusters on the two different types of CeO2 nanocrystals have been studied and compared by using them as catalysts for model reactions. The results of hydrogenation reactions clearly showed the clean and similar chemical surface of the Pt clusters in both catalysts. The support-dependent activity of these catalysts was demonstrated by CO oxidation. The Pt/CeO2 nanorods showed much higher activity compared with Pt/CeO2 nanooctahedra because of the higher concentration of oxygen vacancies in the CeO2 nanorods. The structure-dependent selectivity of dehydrogenation reactions indicates that the structures of the Pt on CeO2 nanorods and nanooctahedra are different. Thes differences arise because the metal deposition behaviors are modulated by the strong metal-metal oxide interactions.