Thin film formation of platinum nanoparticles at oil–water interface, using organoplatinum(ii) complexes, suitable for electro-oxidation of methanol

Abstract

A simple and effective strategy is presented to integrate individual platinum nanoparticles (NPs) into macroscopic thin films based on the reduction of organoplatinum(II) complexes [PtCl₂(cod)] 1a, [PtI₂(cod)] 1b (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) and cis-[Pt(p-MeC₆H₄)₂(SMe₂)₂] 2, at the toluene–water interface in the absence of stabilizer. Structure and morphology of the platinum NPs were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) techniques. Finally, platinum thin films were deposited on glassy carbon electrode and their electro-oxidation was investigated in the methanol oxidation reaction. Pt NPs thin films showed highly improved electrocatalytical activity toward methanol oxidation as compared with commercial platinum catalysts. The present method provides a facile and low-cost strategy toward the synthesis of different electrocatalysts of noble metals for application in fuel cells.