In situ EXAFS investigation of carbon-supported Pt clusters under potential control.

The transformation of carbon supported Pt clusters under potential control in 1M HClO4 solution was investigated by in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements. Both XANES and EXAFS data are used to show the structure evolution of the Pt clusters at various potentials. It showed that the white line area and the edge energy increase with the applied potential in the range 0.1-1.5V. The coordination number of oxygen and platinum on the Pt/C electrode increases and decreases, respectively, with the applied potential. It is found that the size of Pt cluster does not grow during the electrode fabrication. However, the crystallization of Pt cluster occurs during the potential cycling.