Synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy study of metal-oxide thin film catalysts: Pt–CeO2 coated CNTs

The interaction of Pt with CeO2 layers was investigated by using high resolution hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Pt doped CeO2 layers were deposited simultaneously by rf-magnetron sputtering on a SiO2/Si substrate and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown on a carbon diffusion layer of a polymer membrane fuel cell. In the case of the CNT support photoelectron spectra showed the formation of ionic platinum rich cerium oxide with Pt2+,4+ species, and with the Pt2+/Pt4+ ratio strongly dependent on the amount of platinum. Ce reveals 4+/3+ mixed valent character with Ce3+ concentration increasing with Pt content. In the case of the SiO2/Si substrate the film revealed Ce4+ and Pt4+ species only.