Distinct dependence on size of Pt and Rh nanoclusters on graphene/Pt(111) in the decomposition of methanol-d₄

Pt and Rh nanoclusters, grown on deposition of Pt and Rh vapors onto graphene/Pt(111), show separate reactivity toward the decomposition of methanol-d₄. The Pt (Rh) clusters had a mean diameter 2.0–3.5 nm (2.1–4.0 nm) and height 0.45–0.94 nm (0.41–0.9 nm) evolving with the coverage; they were structurally ordered, having an fcc phase and growing in (111) orientation, and had lattice constants similar to their bulk values. Methanol-d₄ on the Pt clusters did not decompose but desorbed mostly, disparate from that on Pt(111) surface; the disparity arose as the adsorption energies of methanol-d₄ on most surface sites of the Pt clusters became smaller than their single crystal counterpart. This size effect, nevertheless, did not apply on the Rh clusters, despite their similar atomic stacking; the Rh clusters showed a reactivity similar to that of the Rh(111) surface because the adsorption energies of methanol-d₄ on both Rh clusters and Rh(111) are comparable. The distinct size dependence was rationalized through their electronic structures and charge distribution of Fukui function mapping. Our results suggest that reactive transition metals do not necessarily become more reactive while they are scaled down to nanoscale; their reactivity evolves with their size in a manner largely dependent on their electronic nature.