Observation of Single Pt Nanoparticle Collisions: Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity on a Pd Ultramicroelectrode

• Published in: Chemphyschem Vol. 17; no. 11; pp. 1637 - 1641
• Main Authors: Shin, Changhwan, Park, Tae Eun, Park, Changki, Kwon, Seong Jung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Blackwell Publishing Ltd 03.06.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: electrochemical amplification; electrochemistry; hydrazine oxidation; Nanoparticles; Oxidation; Pd ultramicroelectrodes; electrochemical amplification; nanoparticles; Pd ultramicroelectrodes; electrochemistry; hydrazine oxidation
• ISSN: 1439-4235; 1439-7641
• DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201600032

Single Pt nanoparticle (NP) collisions on an electrode surface were detected by using an electrocatalytic amplification method with a Pd ultramicroelectrode (UME). Pd is not a preferred material for UMEs for the detection of single Pt NP collisions, because Pd shows similar electrocatalytic activity compared with Pt for hydrazine oxidation, thus resulting in a high background current level. However, a Pt NP colliding on the Pd UME shows greatly enhanced activity compared with a Pt NP on an inert UME, such as a Au UME, which is usually used for the detection of single Pt NP collisions. The use of an electroactive UME material instead of an inert one facilitated the study of single‐NP activity on the various solid supports, which is important in many NP applications. Single nanoparticle collisions: Single Pt nanoparticle (NP) collisions are observed by using an electrocatalytic Pd ultramicroelectrode (UME), rather than an inert UME.