In Situ Shell-Isolated Nanoparticle-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy to Unravel Sequential Hydrogenation of Phenylacetylene over Platinum Nanoparticles

Shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) is quickly developing into a powerful characterization tool in heterogeneous catalysis. In this work, we employ Pt catalysts supported on Au@SiO2 shell-isolated nanoparticles to study hydrogenation reactions. First, we demonstrate the facile preparation of Pt/Au@SiO2 and its characterization by using adsorption of CO as probe molecule. Next, we use the adsorption and hydrogenation of phenylacetylene as a model reaction for the interaction of triple bonds and aromatic rings with catalytic Pt surfaces. We show that the applicability of SHINERS is not limited to inherently gaseous compounds, thereby expanding the applicability of the technique to more complex systems. Furthermore, by using nonparticipating side groups as labels, we observe the sequential hydrogenation of phenylacetylene into styrene and ultimately ethylbenzene upon reaction with H2. Upon the absence of H2, the reverse reaction takes place with those molecules still adsorbed onto the catalyst surface, which allowed a more detailed understanding of the reaction mechanism and the assignment of Raman peaks. This strengthens the position of SHINERS as an easily applicable surface sensitive technique that can be used to study a wide variety of chemical reactions in the field of heterogeneous catalysis.