Influence of pH on performance of sodium phosphinate for decreasing the particle size

Abstract

To clarify the influence of pH on performance of sodium phosphinate (NaPH2O2) for decreasing particle size of Pt nanoparticles, carbon-supported Pt nanoparticles that contained phosphorus (P–Pt/C) were synthesised by an electron-beam irradiation reduction method (EBIRM) under four different pH conditions (pH = 3, 6, 9, and 12) and under five different NaPH2O2 concentrations (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 mM). The relationship among pH, NaPH2O2 concentration, average particle size of Pt nanoparticle, and Pt loading weight was investigated in this study. The average particle size of Pt nanoparticles was in the range of 0.8–3.4 nm and lower in the order; pH12 > pH3 > pH6 > pH9; for example, under the same NaPH2O2 concentrations of 3.0 mM, the particle size of P–Pt/C prepared at pH = 12 and pH = 9 was 1.5 and 0.8 nm, respectively. In addition, Pt loading weight was also lower in the order; pH12 > pH3 > pH6 > pH9. In summary, these results indicated that the pH in the precursor solution affected the performance of NaPH2O2. These findings would be useful for controlling the particle size of monometallic Pt and Pt-based bimetallic nanoparticles supported on carbon particles for fuel cell applications.