Synthesis of Platinum Nanoparticles and the Catalyzed Production of Hydrogen*

With the recent excitement to find alternatives to fossil fuels, hydrogen fuel cells have been considered as a possibility. Yet hydrogen fuel cells are not yet a very good option, due in part to hydrogen most commonly and easily being produced in connection with fossil fuel use. This has spurred research, including our own, into finding novel ways to produce hydrogen gas that doesn't involve fossil fuels. We are investigating a system for hydrogen production that utilizes Ferritin, an iron storing protein found in all animals, and methyl viologen, an herbicide. In a light catalyzed reaction with Ferritin acting as a semi-conductor, platinum ions are reduced to form small, roughly 2 nm in diameter, platinum nanoparticles. We've successfully synthesized, separated, characterized, and imaged platinum nanoparticles using this process. To produce hydrogen gas, we have attempted, unsuccessfully, to reduce methyl viologen and use reduced methyl viologen to reduce hydrogen gas with platinum nanoparticles acting as catalyst. This part of our system is being investigated and refined.