THE REDUCTION OF HEXACHLOROPLATINIC(IV) ACID ON THE SURFACE OF ALUMINA

Petra Gorišek,^a Vojmir Francetič,^a Christian L. Lengauer,^b Jadran Maček^a

^a Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

^b Institut for Mineralogy and Crystallography, Geozentrum, University of Vienna, Althanstr. 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria

Abstract

Platinum particles were deposited onto alumina by the chemical reduction of hexachloroplatinic(IV) acid using various carboxylic acids. The surface of the alumina was treated with reagents, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide, to generate new active sites on the surface. All the samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Better control of the platinum particle size and distribution was achieved with a low-temperature preparation and surface pretreatment. Energy-dispersion X-ray (EDX) microanalysis was used for platinum detection on the surface of the alumina.

Key words: platinum, particles, alumina, support, carboxylic acids, reduction