Preparation and characterization of hydrophobic carbon-supported Pt3M (M = Fe, Co, Ni and Cr) bimetals for H/D isotope separation between hydrogen and water

•High-loading and monodispersed Pt3M/C catalysts were prepared for LPCE.•Good particle sizes and uniform compositions are essential characteristics.•The hydrogen isotope exchange was used to evaluate the catalytic performance.•There still exists the other reaction pathway in the Pt3M/C/PTFE catalysts.

To improve characteristics of hydrophobic catalysts for hydrogen isotope separation between hydrogen and water which is a key reaction for water detritiation and heavy water production, monodispersed Pt3M bimetal hydrophobic catalysts were fabricated. The average diameters of Pt3M nanoparticles ranged from 2.2 nm to 2.6 nm. The lattice parameters of Pt3M were 3.87 Å, 3.83 Å, 3.78 Å and 3.90 Å, respectively. All compositions were well-controlled to the similar value. The addition of the metallic Fe, Ni, Cr, and Co hindered the oxidation of the metallic Pt during the preparation of Pt3M/C catalysts. The catalytic activities for H/D isotope separation increased in the following order: Pt/C < Pt3Ni/C ≈ Pt3CoC < Pt3Fe/C < Pt3Cr/C. Catalytic performance tests demonstrated that selection of Pt3M bimetal is a very effective approach to improve hydrophobic catalytic. Finally, the enhanced activities of Pt3M bimetals over Pt were discussed by different mechanisms.