Effect of Hydrogen Pretreatment of Platinum Nanoparticles on their Catalytic Properties: Reactions with Alkyl Radicals – A Mechanistic Study

Methyl radicals react with platinum nanoparticles (NPs) suspended in aqueous solutions to form (Pt⁰-NPs)-(CH₃)_n as a stable major product. Hydrogen gas treatment of the Pt⁰-NPs affects the composition of the products and the surface reactions. The results clearly point out that pretreatment of Pt⁰-NPs and (Pt⁰-NPs)-(CH₃)_n with H₂ considerably affects their reactions with methyl radicals. The implications of the results on catalytic processes are discussed.