Professor Gary Attard Project Titles
1. Understanding the synthesis of shape-controlled nanoparticles and their electrocatalytic properties
The project will investigate the interaction of certain polymeric materials such as PVP, PAA (used for synthesising Pt nanoparticles of defined shape) and Nafion (a proton conductor used in fuel cells) with single crystal Pt{hkl} electrode surfaces. Preliminary studies have demonstrated a difference in the nature of the surface-polymer bond depending on the precise surface crystallography of the Pt electrode upon which the polymers adsorb. Hence, preferential growth of one crystal direction (the weakly interacting face)compared to another facet results in nanoparticular cubes, needles or hexagons being formed. Interestingly, this property of preferential adsorption of polymers at step or terrace sites may be utilised in catalysis since the control of selectivity and activity depends strongly on surface structure. Although this behaviour is well reported for inorganic atoms such as bismuth and palladium, it is hardly reported at all for polymers. Therefore, the project will also use a multi-technique approach of surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy, Cyclic Voltammetry and Rotating Disc Electrode Voltammetry to elucidate surface mechanism in order to develop novel and slecletive electrocatalysts. In particular, a combination of bimetallic Pt-X (where X = Rh, Pd, Ni, Co) nanoparticles modified with polymer will be investigated in relation to the oxygen reduction reaction.
References
1. Enantioselective Hydrogenation of α-Ketoesters: An in Situ Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) Study Taylor, Robert J.; Jiang, Yu Xiong; Rees, Neil V.; Attard, Gary A.; Jeffery, Edward L.; Willock, David J. Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2011), 115(43), 21363-21372
2. Unprecedented Structural Sensitivity toward Average Terrace Width: Nafion Adsorption at Pt{hkl} Electrodes Ahmed, Mujib; Morgan, David; Attard, Gary Anthony; Wright, Edward; Thompsett, David; Sharman, Jonathan Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2011), 115(34), 17020-17027
3. In Situ Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic Studies and Electrochemical Reduction of α-Ketoesters and Self Condensation Products at Platinum Surfaces Rees, Neil V.; Taylor, Robert J.; Jiang, Yu Xiong; Morgan, Ian R.; Knight, David W.; Attard, Gary A. Journal of Physical Chemistry C (2011), 115(4), 1163-1170