Abstract's Details

In situ Studies of M(111)/Pt/Electrolyte Interfaces Using Hard X-ray Probes
Abstract ID	MAT-19
Presenter	Daniel Friebel
Presentation Type	Poster
Full Author List	D. Friebel (1), J. B. MacNaughton (1), J. E. Leisch (1), J. Stalgren (1), H. Ogasawara (1), M. F. Toney (1), U. Bergmann (1), A. Nilsson (1)
Affiliations	(1) Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory
Category	Materials Science
Abstract	Within the scope of our current research project on fuel cell catalysis, we are preparing new experiments that will use hard x-rays to study the geometric and electronic structure of well defined Pt-modified M(111) surfaces (M = Cu, Au, Pt, Cu3Pt). These experiments will be conducted in situ, i.e. while in contact with electrolyte and under potential control. Two complementary designs for electrochemical cells will be used, where the electrolyte will either form a very thin layer, allowing for measurements in a broad x-ray energy range, or a several mm thick droplet. The latter design is suitable only for higher x-ray energies (10-20 keV), but can be used also under very high electrochemical currents. Crystal truncation rod scattering will be used to determine the structure of the topmost Pt layer and the first few underlying substrate layers. Near-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy and resonant x-ray emission spectroscopy will be used to study both the electronic structure of the Pt layer as well as for the detection of adsorbed oxygen-containing species. The use of Pt monolayers on foreign metal substrates will dramatically enhance the surface sensitivity of the hard x-ray probe, and, furthermore, elucidate the influence of metal-metal interactions and interfacial strain on the catalytic activity.
Footnotes
Funding Acknowledgement	This work is supported by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences, US Department of Energy under the auspices of the President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative and through the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory. D.F. is grateful to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for a Feodor Lynen fellowship. J.B.M. thanks the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for financial support.