Pt-based thin film catalysts as the model system for real catalysts

The opportunity to use the structure-function relationship in electrocatalyst design is based on a fundamental understanding of physicochemical processes at the very top of the surface. Electrochemical reaction rates are highly sensitive to the geometric configuration of surface atoms, primarily due to variations in adsorbate binding strengths across different crystallographic facets. Platinum (Pt) thin films, prepared using different substrates and deposition processes, were systematically studied for the electrooxidation of small organic molecules, specifically formic acid and methanol. The low-index Pt single crystal electrodes were employed for reactivity benchmarking, which later guided the thermal annealing procedure leading to the fine-tuning of the ratio between (111) and (100) surface facets on Pt thin films.