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Electrochemical Effects at Surfactant–Platinum Nanoparticle Interfaces Boost Catalytic Performance
Author(s) -
AlmoraBarrios Neyvis,
Vilé Gianvito,
GarciaRatés Miquel,
PérezRamírez Javier,
López Núria
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201601134
Subject(s) - catalysis , nitrobenzene , platinum , electrochemistry , platinum nanoparticles , pulmonary surfactant , nanoparticle , aniline , materials science , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , electrode , engineering
Nanoparticles are applied in a variety of industrially relevant transformations as heterogeneous catalysts typically with the help of an external force (pressure, temperature, or voltage) to steer the chemistry. The modification of platinum nanoparticles by a phosphate–amino surfactant enables catalysis without external energy supply in the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to aniline. This can be attributed to the complex surfactant/metal interface which is able to split hydrogen into protons and electrons. The subsequent hydrogenation process mimics the electrochemical reduction described by Haber. The surfactant decorated Pt catalyst is two orders of magnitude more active than the state‐of‐the‐art Pb‐poisoned Pt catalyst. Our study provides a new approach to understand the functionality of emerging catalytic systems and can be applied to design new materials with optimal interfaces.