Pt Supported on Plasma-Chemical Titanium Nitride for Efficient Room-Temperature CO Oxidation

Catalysts of carbon monoxide oxidation were synthesized by deposition of platinum on titanium nitride (TiN). Two substrates with an average particle size of 18 and 36 nm were obtained by hydrogen reduction of titanium tetrachloride in a stream of microwave plasma of nitrogen. The surface of the catalysts was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The data obtained by us in the present work indicate the presence of oxynitride as a transition layer between nitride and oxide. It was found that the CO oxidation rate on the 9 - 15 wt.% Pt loaded TiN catalysts is 120 times higher than that on the platinum black with a specific surface of 30 m2/g. Increase in the reaction rate of CO oxidation on Pt/TiN catalysts as compared to platinum black can be associated with both an increase in the concentration of CO molecules adsorbed and a decrease in the activation energy of the reaction. Catalysts are promising for use in catalytic air purification systems.