Pt Particles on a Dynamic TiO2 Support in Near-Ambient Conditions–Disentangling Size, Pressure, and Support Effects

Platinum particles on reducible oxides are known to form complex and highly dynamic catalyst systems at elevated pressures and temperatures, often adopting active structures that differ from those found at room temperature and under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). Here, we study the oxidation and structural evolution of subnanometer Pt clusters and nanoparticles supported on rutile TiO₂(110) across an oxygen pressure range from UHV to 0.1 mbar, using near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) under UHV and NAP conditions, and low-energy ion scattering (LEIS). Our results reveal distinct differences in oxidation behavior and thermal stability between Pt nanoparticles and clusters, which are further modulated by the support stoichiometry and oxygen pressure. Small Pt clusters become oxidized even at room temperature but are susceptible to accelerated sintering in 0.1 mbar O₂ at elevated temperatures. In contrast, well-crystallized Pt nanoparticles on near-stoichiometric TiO₂ show weaker oxidation. On a reduced, defective TiO₂ support, Pt instead quickly becomes deeply buried by new titania layers, which are formed during support reoxidation. This process appears to result primarily from interactions of the support with the gas phase, unlike the classical, self-limited encapsulation that is induced by the strong metal–support interaction (SMSI). Finally, we address the full complexity of real catalysts in a direct side-by-side comparison of the single-crystalline model system with a Pt-loaded TiO₂ powder catalyst (P25). We conclude that the stoichiometry of the model supports must be carefully chosen and controlled to accurately reproduce the expected state of powder supports during redox reactions.