Effects of carbon surface oxides on the dispersion of Pt/C catalysts prepared via adsorption of hexachloroplatinic acid: a new insight

A new concept is advanced to explain some effects of oxygen-containing groups of the carbon surfaces on the dispersion of Pt/C catalysts prepared through the adsorption of H2PtCl6 onto porous carbon powders followed by the reduction with H2. These groups alter the electrochemical properties of the support and, therefore, influence the nature and amount of the adsorbed catalyst precursors formed during a redox reaction between the carbon surface and H2PtCl6, that reflects on the dispersion of Pt/C. A way to account for their impact on platinum dispersion is offered. It allows revising and uniting many literature data related to this problem.