Tailored surface composition of Au/Pt nanocatalysts synthesized in microemulsions: a simulation study

Abstract

Au/Pt nanoparticles show an optimized catalytic activity when compared with Pt nanoparticles because Pt activity is improved by the presence of Au on the surface. It was checked whether a controllable surface composition can be achieved by the simple strategy of varying the Au : Pt ratio. We present an in-depth kinetic simulation study on the influence of Au : Pt ratio on the formation of Au/Pt nanoparticles synthesized in microemulsions. This study is able to explain the resulting nanoarrangement as a function of kinetic parameters such as Au : Pt ratio and intermicellar exchange rate. The role of the micelles as a dosing pump of the Au precursor explains that a higher Au amount results in a Au reduction which takes place over a longer period of time. It implies that Au is deposited until longer stages of the synthesis, so Au is present at the nanoparticle surface. Micelles as reaction media produce a minor impact on Pt due to its slower reduction. These different kinetic behaviours of Au and Pt give rise to a surface composition which can be tailored by tuning the Au : Pt ratio. Numerical results on surface composition successfully reproduce experimental data and further support the outcomes of the degree of atomic mixing under different Au : Pt ratios.