In situ real-time monitoring of Pt-VO 2 nanoparticle-nanowire assembly by GISAXS

Abstract

Methanol is a hydrogen carrier for fuel cells and its chemical transformations are of great current interest. Methanol oxidation by vanadium oxides is well studied, hence, serves as a good measure for catalytic activity. Arrays of VO 2 nanowires grown on r-cut sapphire prove to be unique for the in situ catalytic activity tests. Here, we present size and morphology dependent activity of Platinum coated single crystalline VO 2 nanowires in methanol oxidation reactions using Grazing Incidence Small Angle X-ray Scattering (GISAXS). Our findings show an unexpected sintering behavior of Pt at temperatures as low as 200 °C. © 2010 Copyright SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering.