Density of States of Ru3 and Pt3 Clusters Supported on Sputter-Deposited TiO2

TL;DR

This study investigates the electronic density of states of Ru3 and Pt3 clusters on TiO2 surfaces, revealing differences in surface encapsulation and potential catalytic applications.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of Ru3 and Pt3 clusters on TiO2, highlighting their electronic structures and surface interactions using advanced spectroscopic techniques.

Findings

Ru3 clusters are encapsulated by TiO2, affecting their electronic states.

Pt3 clusters remain on the surface, modifying surface energy levels.

Differences are due to the higher surface energy of Ru compared to Pt.

Abstract

In this work, 3-atom clusters, Ru3 and Pt3, were deposited onto radio frequency RF-sputter deposited TiO2, treated with Ar+ ion sputtering. Ru3 was deposited by both solution submersion and chemical vapor deposition of Ru3(CO)12, while Pt3 was deposited under ultra-high vacuum using a laser vaporisation cluster source. The valence electronic density of states (DOS) of the deposited clusters were analysed after heat treatment using ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and metastable impact electron spectroscopy (MIES), where UPS measures the top several layers while MIES measures only the top atomic layer. XPS was used to determine the cluster surface coverages. The DOS were found to be very similar between Ru3 deposited by solution submersion and chemical vapor deposition. MIES results for Ru3 had contributions from titania O 2p sites due to encapsulation by a reduced titania overlayer. For Pt3 clusters the UPS and MIES results provided evidence that Pt was present on the topmost layer, and encapsulation did not occur. The proposed reason for the encapsulation of Ru3 but not of Pt3 is the higher surface energy of Ru over Pt. It is concluded that Pt clusters deposited onto TiO2 can modify the outermost layer by adding discrete energy levels on the surface, whereas the Ru clusters being encapsulated just below the surface generate a broad distribution of energy states close to the Fermi level. The outcome of this work is that Pt3-cluster-modified surfaces could be used as catalysts for reactions where the Pt3 energy levels are suitable for the respective reaction. The implication of the DOS found for photocatalytic water splitting are discussed.