Characterization of (111) surface tailored Pt nanoparticles by electrochemistry and X-ray powder diffraction

Platinum nanoparticles with a mean size of 8.7 nm were synthesized by a salt reduction reaction having polyhedron shapes with preferential (1 1 1) surfaces. In situ electrochemical characterization of nanoparticles was performed which confirmed the existence of mostly (1 1 1) surface sites in the sample. The effect of this surface in the electrooxidation of CO was measured. Debye Function Analysis (DFA) and Whole Powder Pattern Modelling (WPPM) of the measured X-ray diffraction pattern were carried out to obtain statistical information on the particle size and shape present in the sample. Both analyses determined that the octahedron particle shape was the most abundant which was also consistent with TEM observations. The existence of a small percentage of single twinned particles was determined by DFA, WPPM, as well as analysis of HRTEM images.