No abstract

In the current work, platinum catalyst nanoclusters were synthesized using two methods: (a) ascorbic acid reduction of K2PtCl4, (b) an H2PtCl6 polyol process. The processes yield clusters of platinum consisting of nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution. Experiments were conducted using platinum clusters as the working electrode and bulk platinum wire as the counter electrode, both supported on inert, electronically conducting substrates. The electrodes spaced between 1 mm and 6 mm apart, were immersed in a Pt2+/Pt4+ containing electrolyte solution and electric potential was measured across the two electrodes. Experimental data show significantly lower kinetics of particle growth for the clustered, uniformly sized particles as compared to commercially available carbon supported platinum catalysts.