Gallium-Assisted Platinum Isolation: Formation of Multiple Pt Species in Ga-Pt Liquid Metal Catalysts

Hsieh TE, Carl S, Steffen J, Mölkner A, Frisch J, Spiecker E, Görling A, Will J, Bär M (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Small Structures Wiley

Book Volume: 7

Article Number: e70499

Journal Issue: 6

DOI: 10.1002/sstr.70499

Abstract

Ga-Pt liquid metal catalysts have emerged as promising catalysts, offering improved catalytic performance compared to pure platinum for reactions such as propane dehydrogenation. Previous studies suggest that the active species formed in Ga-Pt catalysts differ from traditional metallic Pt. In this study, we explore multiple potential active Pt species by focusing on the surface-derived electronic and chemical structures assessed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the correlating structural composition analyzed by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). While XPS indicates that Pt is present in different chemical environments, STEM reveals different topographic structures varying from Pt single atom to Pt agglomerates and Ga-Pt intermetallic compounds (IMCs). The variation in the chemical, electronic, and topographic structure of Pt depends on its amount, as well as on the surrounding environment (e.g., gallium-oxide shell versus liquid Ga matrix). Further, XPS and STEM in situ investigations at elevated temperature (T) shed light on the high dynamic surfaces, demonstrating the dissolution of Ga-Pt IMCs due to the enhanced solubility of Pt in Ga with increasing T. The chemical and electronic structure of the Pt species is discussed in conjunction with density-functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations, providing an unprecedented conceptual understanding of Ga-Pt catalysts.

Authors with CRIS profile

Simon Carl Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Mikro- und Nanostrukturforschung) Julien Steffen Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Chemie Andreas Mölkner Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Chemie Erdmann Spiecker Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Mikro- und Nanostrukturforschung) Andreas Görling Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Chemie Johannes Will Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Mikro- und Nanostrukturforschung) Marcus Bär

Involved external institutions

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Hsieh, T.E., Carl, S., Steffen, J., Mölkner, A., Frisch, J., Spiecker, E.,... Bär, M. (2026). Gallium-Assisted Platinum Isolation: Formation of Multiple Pt Species in Ga-Pt Liquid Metal Catalysts. Small Structures, 7(6). https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.70499

MLA:

Hsieh, Tzung En, et al. "Gallium-Assisted Platinum Isolation: Formation of Multiple Pt Species in Ga-Pt Liquid Metal Catalysts." Small Structures 7.6 (2026).

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