Platinum nanoparticles combine catalytic activity, nanoscale surface area, tunable particle size, and distinctive optical properties. These characteristics have led to their use in research spanning catalysis, electrochemistry, fuel cells, sensing, biomedical applications, and advanced materials.
nanoComposix platinum nanoparticles are available as citrate-stabilized colloids across multiple particle sizes and concentration formats. Citrate provides a relatively accessible surface for subsequent modification, while particle size and formulation can be selected around the requirements of the application.
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Explore citrate-stabilized platinum nanoparticles across multiple particle sizes and concentration formats.
Platinum Nanoparticle Synthesis & Physical Properties
nanoComposix platinum nanoparticles are synthesized by reducing platinum salt precursors in solution in the presence of a capping agent to form stable colloidal nanoparticle suspensions. Particle size can be controlled through variables such as precursor chemistry, ligand-to-precursor ratio, reaction temperature, and other synthesis conditions.
Current standard platinum nanoparticle sizes include 5 nm, 30 nm, 50 nm, and 70 nm. Custom synthesis can be used to evaluate alternative particle sizes or formulations when a standard configuration does not meet the requirements of an application.
Platinum nanoparticle dispersions generally appear brown at low to moderate mass concentrations. At higher concentrations, the dispersions become much darker brown and can appear nearly black.
Surface Chemistry & Formulation
Standard nanoComposix platinum nanoparticles use citrate surface chemistry. Citrate provides electrostatic stabilization in aqueous suspension and is relatively easy to displace compared with more strongly bound polymer coatings, making it useful when subsequent ligand exchange or surface modification is required.
Current standard platinum nanoparticles are available at 0.05 mg/mL and 1 mg/mL by platinum mass. The images below show the concentration-dependent appearance of the 5, 30, 50, and 70 nm particle families.
Low-Endotoxin Platinum Nanoparticles
For cell culture and other sensitive biological research, 1 mg/mL platinum nanoparticle formulations are available with low endotoxin. These materials are passed through a 0.22 µm membrane filter in a controlled environment and batch tested for endotoxin.
Refer to the individual product page and batch-specific Certificate of Analysis for the current endotoxin specification, buffer composition, particle-size specification, and characterization data supplied with each material.
Batch-Specific Characterization
Platinum nanoparticle products are supplied with batch-specific characterization data to help researchers understand the material they are using and compare performance over time. Depending on the product, characterization may include transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, UV-Visible spectroscopy, solution pH, and other relevant measurements.
Learn more about Nanoparticle Characterization Techniques.
Platinum Nanoparticle Optical Properties
Platinum nanoparticles interact with ultraviolet and visible light through a combination of free-electron and interband optical processes. Their optical response is distinct from the strong visible localized surface plasmon resonances associated with spherical gold and silver nanoparticles, with important spectral features occurring at higher energies and shorter wavelengths.
Particle size and the surrounding environment can influence platinum nanoparticle extinction, absorption, and scattering. The spectrum below shows the measured optical response of platinum nanoparticles across the UV-Visible region.
Example UV-Visible optical response of platinum nanoparticles.
For a broader discussion of how nanoscale metals interact with light, see The Science of Plasmonics. For application-focused information on nanoparticle optical response, see Nanomaterials for Optical Engineering.
Platinum Nanoparticle Applications
Platinum nanoparticles are used in research where nanoscale catalytic activity, controlled particle dimensions, surface chemistry, or optical and electrochemical properties are important.
Catalysis & Electrochemistry
Platinum is an important catalytic material, and nanoscale platinum provides high surface area relative to the amount of metal present. Particle size, morphology, porosity, surface condition, and interactions with a supporting material can all influence catalytic behavior.
Research using nanoComposix platinum nanoparticles has included methanol oxidation at individual nanoparticles and studies demonstrating that nanoparticle porosity can influence catalytic activity.2,4
Fuel Cell & Energy Research
Platinum nanoparticles are widely investigated in electrochemical energy systems, including fuel-cell research. Precisely characterized nanoparticle standards can help researchers evaluate relationships among particle size, particle number, platinum mass, and analytical measurements.
For example, nanoComposix platinum nanoparticles have been used to evaluate single-particle ICP-MS characterization methods for platinum materials relevant to fuel-cell applications.1
Biomedical & Sensing Research
Platinum nanoparticles have also been investigated in biomedical research, sensing, drug-delivery systems, and light-responsive applications. The relevant particle size, surface chemistry, concentration, and formulation depend strongly on the biological model and intended function.
One study highlighted below evaluated platinum nanoparticles in a photothermal cancer-cell research model.3 Such findings are specific to the experimental formulation and conditions evaluated and should not be interpreted as evidence of clinical efficacy for platinum nanoparticles generally.
For biomedical nanoparticle-development programs, see Nanomedicine CDMO Services.
Custom Platinum Nanoparticle Development
Particle size, surface chemistry, concentration, solvent, and formulation can all affect platinum nanoparticle performance. When a standard citrate-stabilized material does not meet the requirements of a project, custom development can be used to evaluate alternative particle configurations and processing approaches.
Our technical team can also support nanoparticle characterization, formulation development, surface modification, and scale-up based on project requirements.
Explore Custom Nanoparticle Development.
Need help selecting or developing a platinum nanoparticle?
Talk with our technical team about particle size, surface chemistry, concentration, characterization, formulation, or custom development.
nanoComposix Platinum Nanoparticles Featured in Literature
The selected studies below highlight the use of nanoComposix platinum nanoparticles in fuel-cell characterization, electrochemistry, photothermal research, and catalysis.
- Lamsal, R. P.; Hineman, A.; Stephan, C.; Tahmasebi, S.; Baranton, S.; Coutanceau, C.; Jerkiewicz, G.; Beauchemin, D. Characterization of Platinum Nanoparticles for Fuel Cell Applications by Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Analytica Chimica Acta 2020, 1139, 36–41.
- Chang, X.; Batchelor-McAuley, C.; Compton, R. G. Methanol Oxidation at Single Platinum Nanoparticles. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry 2021, 896, 115438.
- Aswad, D. S.; Qoqaj, I. Platinum Nanoparticles in Photothermal Therapy of Cancer Cells. UCPH NanoScience – A Student Research Journal 2018.
- Yu, W.; Batchelor-McAuley, C.; Chang, X.; Young, N. P.; Compton, R. G. Porosity Controls the Catalytic Activity of Platinum Nanoparticles. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 2019, 21, 20415–20421.
Related platinum nanoparticle resources