Promoted Catalytic Activity of a Platinum Monolayer Cluster on Graphite

Abstract

Platinum atoms deposited on a graphite surface show distinct different catalytic activity depending on their morphology on the surface. Flat monolayer clusters of platinum on graphite show higher catalytic activity than taller Pt clusters for the H 2 −D 2 exchange reaction. It is suggested based on scanning tunneling microscopy observations and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements that the origin of the superiority is due to the interface interaction between Pt and graphite, leading to a shift of the d -band center of platinum away from the Fermi level.