protonated hexaniobate compounds on a Philips X’Pert diffractometer
utilizing Cu Kα radiation (λ = 1.5418 Å) and a curved
graphite monochromator at a voltage of 45 kV and a current of 40 mA.
Attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR)
spectroscopy was conducted using a Bruker Alpha II Compact FT-IR spectrometer.
Visible range absorbance spectra were collected using a Cary 500 UV–vis/NIR
spectrometer. For transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations,
catalysts were dispersed in hexane and drop-cast onto 200-mesh copper
grids. Both standard and high-resolution TEM images were obtained
using an FEI G2 F30 Tecnai Twin transmission electron microscope
at an accelerating voltage of 300 kV. These were used to study catalyst
morphology, size, and Pt loading. TEM images of Pt@HNB NPPs were analyzed
with ImageJ software to find interlayer spacing values of the multiwalled
NPPs, determine inner and outer NPP diameters, and calculate filling
fractions for the NPPs. ImageJ was also used to calculate active Pt
loading by weight percentage for both the Pt@HNB NPPs and extPt-HNB
NScs.