Formation of Pt/C catalysts on various carbon supports

Abstract

Platinum catalysts with the active component content of 5–40 wt % on various carbon supports have been synthesized by the reductive hydrolysis of platinum chloro complexes. The degree of dispersion of the supported platinum decreases with an increasing weight percentage of the metal in the catalyst. The following mechanism of Pt/C catalyst formation is deduced from experimental data: H2PtCl6 adsorption on the support surface generates platinum nuclei, which then grow owing to the deposition of platinum ions under the action of an alkali and a reductant.