Atomic force microscopy of the dissolution of cubic Pt nanoparticle on a carbon substrate

Dissolution mechanism of cubic Pt nanoparticles has been studied with the use of atomic force microscopy on a carbon substrate in 0.1 M NaClO4. The shape of the nanoparticles does not change in the double layer region. The height of the nanoparticles increases slightly at the onset potential of the oxide film formation. The nanoparticles are dissolved from the sides in the oxide film formation region, whereas the change of the height is negligible. These results differ from those of the cubic Pt nanoparticles on a Pt substrate, on which the dissolution proceeds at the upper terrace.

► Dissolution of cubic Pt nanoparticles is imaged on carbon substrate using AFM.
► Height of the nanoparticles increases at the potential of the oxide film formation.
► The nanoparticles are dissolved from the sides.
► The dissolution mechanism differs from that on Pt substrate.