Graphene sheets manipulated the thermal-stability of ultrasmall Pt nanoparticles supported on porous Fe2O3 nanocrystals against sintering

Sintering of noble-metal nanoparticles (NPs) presents a major cause for catalyst deactivation as temperature rises. To date, finding simple strategies to develop sinter-resistant catalysts is still a daunting challenge. Herein, we report stable Pt nanoparticles (<3 nm) on porous Fe2O3 nanocrystals using wrinkled graphene sheets as a new stabilizing layer to manipulate their thermal-stability against sintering. Such a catalyst system allows the Pt NPs to achieve significant thermal stability against extremely severe thermal treatment up to 750 °C in both inert and oxidative atmosphere and retain strikingly remarkable activity; this is due to rhombohedral Fe2O3 nanocrystals ensuring the good dispersibility of Pt NPs across the entire surface, and the distinctive wrinkles on graphene sheets acting as new physical barriers. This study inspires a general approach of developing sinter-resistant catalysts with tunable compositions, to maximize the thermal stability and catalytic activity under harsh conditions.