Monodisperse Pt nanoparticle arrays via block copolymer nanopatterning and their reaction kinetics on CO oxidation

Abstract

Advances in nanotechnology are able to open up new prospects for catalysis, particularly through the development of catalytic systems featuring precisely controlled size and distribution of metal nanoparticles. In this study, we prepared a model catalytic system, where monodisperse Pt nanoparticles, approximately 8 nm in size, were uniformly distributed onto CeO₂ and SiO_x/Si substrates via block copolymer (BCP) nanopatterning. To address the validity of these catalysts, we conducted a case study on CO oxidation in a continuous flow reactor, investigated the reaction kinetics, and compared our observations with those reported in the literature. The reaction orders for CO and O₂, activation energy, and turnover frequency values on these catalysts were in good agreement with those with well-established kinetic data, demonstrating consistency and reliability. These results suggest a potential application of the BCP-nanopatterned catalyst as a model system for fundamental studies in various catalytic processes.