Mechanical Origin of High-Temperature Thermal Stability in Platinum Oxides

Abstract

Platinum oxides are vital catalysts, but their limited thermal stability hinders applications. Recent studies have uncovered a structural transition in two-dimensional platinum oxides that significantly enhances their thermal resilience by several hundred Kelvin. Herein, we demonstrate that this enhanced stability stems from the mechanical robustness of the elastic network at the atomic scale. Prior to the transition, an over-constrained lattice generates localized states of self-stress through an incommensurate Moir\'{e} pattern with the platinum substrate, reducing thermal endurance. After the transition, the oxide shifts to a mechanically flexible structure with balanced degrees of freedom and constraints. The isostatic network, together with the platinum substrate, forms a commensurate Moir\'{e} superlattice that relaxes elastic energy and enhances stability. These findings highlight the fundamental role of network connectivity in governing thermal stability, and provide a design principle for catalysts in extreme environments.