The heterogeneous catalysts of Pt/transition-metal oxides are typically synthesized through calcination at 500 °C, and Pt nanoparticles are uniformly and highly dispersed when hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is applied before calcination. The influence of H2O2 on the dispersion and the stability of Pt nanoparticles on titania-incorporated fumed silica (Pt/Ti-FS) supports was examined using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements at the Pt L3 and Ti K edges as well as density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The local structural and chemical properties around Pt and Ti atoms of Pt/Ti-FS with and without H2O2 treatment were monitored using in-situ XAFS during heating from room temperature to 500 °C. XAFS revealed that the Pt nanoparticles of H2O2-Pt/Ti-FS are highly stable and that the Ti atoms of H2O2-Pt/Ti-FS support form into a distorted-anatase TiO2. DFT calculations showed that Pt atoms bond more stably to oxidized-TiO2 surfaces than they do to bare- and reduced-TiO2 surfaces. XAFS measurements and DFT calculations clarified that the presence of extra oxygen atoms due to the H2O2 treatment plays a critical role in the strong bonding of Pt atoms to TiO2 surfaces.
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