Platinum nanoparticles from the hydrosilylation reaction: capping agents, physical characterizations, and electrochemical properties

Platinum nanoparticles synthesized by a unique synthetic approach, the hydrosilylation reaction, have been reported previously. However, the interaction between the underlying platinum nanosupport and the capping agents is poorly understood. Here we continue to investigate Pt nanoparticles from the hydrosilylation reaction to address this issue and present the characterization results of nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. These characterization results conclude that two different modes of binding of the aliphatic capping agents with the platinum surface are attributed to the formation of Pt-C bonds under excess olefin concentration and Pt-Si bonds under excess hydrosilane concentration. Morphology and UV-vis spectra of the platinum nanoparticles were explored by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Moreover, electrochemical properties of the platinum nanoparticles were also studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry.