Core/shell-structured bimetallic nanocluster catalysts for visible-light-induced
electron transfer
Naoki Toshima
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Science
University of Tokyo in Yamaguchi, Onoda-shi, Yamaguchi 756-0884, Japan
Abstract: It has been found that the bimetallic nanoclusters
often have so-called core/shell structure if they are prepared by alcohol-reduction
of two kinds of noble metal ions in the presence of a water-soluble
polymer like poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrolidone)(PVP), and that the core/ shell
structured bimetallic nanoclusters have much higher catalytic activity
than the corresponding monometallic nanoclusters. Here, several kinds
of monometallic and bimetallic nanoclusters are synthesized by the similar
method, and the catalyses are measured. Thus, the colloidal dispersions
of Au, Pt, Pd, Rh, and Ru monometallic, and Au/Pt, Au/Pd, Au/Rh, and
Pt/Ru bimetallic nanoclusters were synthesized and applied as the catalysts
for visible-light- induced hydrogen generation. The core/shell structures
are analyzed mainly by UV�vis spectra. The rate of electron transfer
from the methyl viologen cation radical to the metal nanoclusters is
proportional to the hydrogen generation rate at the steady state. All
the electrons accepted by the metal nanoclusters are used for the hydrogen
generation. Both electron transfer and hydrogen generation rates increase
when the bimetallic nanoclusters are used in place of the corresponding
monometallic nanoclusters. The most active catalysts were Au/Rh and
Pt/Ru bimetallic nanoclusters.
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