Chemically dealloyed Pt–Au–Cu ternary electrocatalysts with enhanced stability in electrochemical oxygen reduction

We report simple synthesis of ternary Pt–Au–Cu catalysts consisting of active Pt-rich shell and Pt transition-metal alloy core for use as highly active and durable electrocatalysts in oxygen reduction reactions. The ternary Pt–Au–Cu catalysts were synthesized by chemical coreduction followed by thermal treatment and chemical dealloying. During synthesis, thermal treatment formed metal particles into high-degree alloys, and chemical dealloying led to selective dissolution of soluble Cu species from the outer surface layer of the thermally treated alloy particles, resulting in Pt-based alloys@Pt-rich surface core–shell configuration. Compared with a commercial Pt/C catalyst, our Pt_1?xAu _x Cu₃/C-AT catalysts exhibited approximately 2.4-fold enhanced performance in oxygen reduction reactions. Among the catalysts employed in this work, Pt_0.97Au_0.3Cu₃/C-AT showed the highest performance in terms of mass activity, specific activity, and electrochemically active surface area loss with negligible change during 10,000 potential cycles. The synthesis details, electrochemical characteristics, oxygen reduction reaction performance, and durability of the chemically dealloyed ternary Pt–Au–Cu catalysts are presented and discussed.     

Onion-like graphitic nanoshell structured Fe–N/C nanofibers derived from electrospinning for oxygen reduction reaction in acid media

Hollow onion-like graphitic nanoshell structured Fe–N/C nanofiber (Fe–N/CNF) catalyst with porous morphology was prepared by heat treating as-spun polyacrylonitrile/ferrous oxalate composite nanofibers in ammonia atmosphere for the first time. These porous electrocatalyst showed both excellent catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and much better stability than commercial Pt/C catalyst in acid solution. The Fe–N/CNF catalysts developed here could be easily fabricated on a large scale and show high potential in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs).     

Tungsten electrochemistry in alkaline solutions—Anodic dissolution and oxygen reduction reaction

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was investigated in alkaline solution on tungsten electrode subjected to a previous anodic dissolution. The rotating disk cyclic voltammetry and rotating disc chronoamperometry were used. Both unsupported and potassium pechlorate and sulfate supported solutions were examined. The most striking feature of recorded ORR curves is the large difference of ORR overpotential during anodic and cathodic sweep. This was attributed to the formation of tungsten oxide on the surface. It was demonstrated that electrode pretreatment as well as the electrolyte composition greatly affects ORR electrochemistry on tungsten electrode, and the influence of sulfates is discussed.     

Carbon nanotube@ZIF–derived Fe-N-doped carbon electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Iron-nitrogen co-doped hierarchical porous carbon (Fe-N-HPC) was synthesized through the carbonization of carbon nanotube@ZIF composite. It was found that...     

Metalizing carbon nanotubes with Pd–Pt core–shell nanowires enhances electrocatalytic activity and stability in the oxygen reduction reaction

We describe an electrostatically induced self-assembly method to prepare ultrathin Pd nanowires (NWs) surrounding individual multiwalled carbon nanotubes, i.e., Pd_NW/MWNTs, that are noticeable for improving performance in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of their supported Pt_ML electrocatalyst. The carbonaceous by-products in MWNTs, rather than the nanotubes themselves, are modified with the oxygenated terminals to allow the negatively charged and hydrophilic surface while retaining the intrinsic nature of the MWNTs. Encompassing the nanotubes' length are 2-nm-thick Pd NWs that are closely packed and homogeneously dispersed due to the unique processes for preparing Pd_NW/MWNTs and its components. Although the crystal lattice of the Pd NWs expands somewhat, which should cause an unfavorable interaction with supported Pt_ML, this adverse effect is counterweighed by the shape-determined features of Pd NWs, including their high specific surface area, excellent contiguousness, and low-energy atomic configuration. Consequently, these distinct chemical and physical properties substantially expedite the desorption of the intermediates to refresh the active centers during the reduction of oxygen with the Pt_ML electrocatalyst while ensuring a desirable electron transfer rate, so improving the overall ORR kinetics. Indeed, Pt_ML/Pd_NW/MWNTs exhibits the Pt mass and specific activities of 1.45 A/mg_Pt and 0.65 mA/cm² _Pt, respectively, each of which are several times those of the Pt/C and even higher than those of the Pt_ML supported on Pd nanoparticles. These high activities remained over a long-term stability test using the latest US Department of Energy-established protocol.     

Platinum–titanium intermetallic nanoparticle catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction with enhanced activity and durability

A facile method to prepare Pt–Ti intermetallic nanoparticles supported on carbon was developed. Starting from a commercial Pt/C catalyst, TiO₂ layers were formed on the Pt/C then thermal annealing under a reducing condition successfully produced intermetallic Pt–Ti nanoparticles with an average size of 4.2 nm. The intermetallic Pt–Ti/C showed enhanced activity and durability for oxygen reduction reaction due to the change in electronic structure and less aggregation.     

Au-coated carbon cathodes for improved oxygen reduction and evolution kinetics in aprotic Li–O2 batteries

Metal-oxygen systems are an attractive option to enhance the specific energy of secondary batteries. However, their power is limited by the oxygen electrode. In this communication we address the issue of the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen cathode in the aprotic Li–O₂ batteries. The electrochemical performances of newly designed carbon electrodes coated with 50 Å thick Au layer are evaluated and compared with those of unmodified electrodes. Despite the low noble metal content (~ 2 wt.%), the Li–O₂ batteries built with the abovementioned Au-coated cathodes show considerably enhanced kinetics as demonstrated by the higher onset potentials for the oxygen reduction reaction (~ 2.6 V at a current rate of 1000 mA g^− 1), together with reduced oxygen evolution potentials.     

Effect of supports on activity and stability of Pt–Pd catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

The platinum–palladium alloy (Pt–Pd) catalysts were prepared on various supports including Vulcan XC72, Hicon Black (HB), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) by a combined approach of impregnation and seeding using NaBH₄ reduction at low temperature. Their oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities in single proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) under a H₂/O₂ environment and their stability in an acid electrolyte (0.5 M H₂SO₄) were tested and compared with the Vulcan XC72-supported Pt (Pt/C) catalysts. The presence of the Pd metal as well as different types of supports affected the ORR activity in H₂/O₂ environment and stability in the acid electrolyte. Overall, the HB-supported Pt–Pd (Pt–Pd/HB) catalysts provided the highest current density at 0.6 V under a H₂/O₂ environment, while the MWCNT-supported Pt–Pd (Pt–Pd/MWCNT) catalyst provided the best stability in an acid electrolyte.     

Preparation and surface characterization of Pt–Au/C cathode catalysts with ceria modification for oxygen reduction reaction

Alloy catalysts of Pt₅₀Au₅₀/Ce_xC with various Ce additions (x) were prepared for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The characterization of the alloy structures, surface species, and electro-catalytic activities of prepared alloy catalysts were performed by XRD, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), and rotating disc electrode (RDE) technique, respectively. The ORR activity of Pt₅₀Au₅₀/C alloy catalyst with a promotion of 15% CeO₂ was enhanced significantly in comparison to the commercial Pt/C catalyst within the mixed kinetic-diffusion control region. The addition of CeO₂ decreased the particle sizes, increased the dispersion and enhanced the surface segregation of Pt which resulting in an alloy surface with a moderate oxophilicity on alloy catalysts.     

Thermodynamics of oxygen solutions in titanium-containing Fe–Co melts

Performed for the first time, the thermodynamic analysis of oxygen solutions in titanium-containing Fe–Co melts showed that the deoxidizing power of titanium with increasing cobalt content of the melt first decreases, reaches a minimum at a cobalt content of 20%, and then increases. The titanium contents [%Ti]* at equilibrium points between the oxide phases TiO₂, Ti₃O₅, and Ti₂O₃ were determined. The curves of the oxygen solubility in titanium-containing iron–cobalt melts pass through a minimum, which shifts toward lower titanium contents with increasing cobalt content of the melt. Further alloying with titanium leads to an increase in the oxygen concentration of the melt so that the higher cobalt content of the melt, the steeper the increase in the oxygen content after the minimum as titanium is added to the melt.     

On the structural composition and stability of Fe–N–C catalysts prepared by an intermediate acid leaching

The development of highly active and stable non-noble metal catalysts (NNMC) for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEM-FC) becomes of importance in order to enable cost reduction. In this work, we discuss the structural composition as derived from Fe-57 Mößbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, catalytic performance determined by a rotating (ring) disk electrode (RRDE) technique and stability evaluation of our Fe–N–C catalysts prepared by an intermediate acid leaching (IAL). The advantage of this IAL is given by a high density of active sites within the catalyst, as even without sulphur addition, an iron carbide formation and related disintegration of active sites are inhibited. In addition, our accelerated stress tests illustrate better stability of the sulphur-free IAL catalyst in comparison to the sulphur-added one.     

Completely green synthesis of colloid Adams' catalyst α-PtO2 nanocrystals and derivative Pt nanocrystals with high activity and stability for oxygen reduction

We report a first solution strategy for controlled synthesis of Adams' catalyst (i.e., α-PtO(2)) by a facile and totally green approach using H(2)PtCl(6) and water as reactants. The prepared α-PtO(2) nanocrystals (NCs) are ultrasmall in size and have very "clean" surfaces, which can be reduced to Pt NCs easily in ethanol under ambient conditions. Such Adams' catalysts have been applied as electrocatalysts beyond the field of heterogeneous catalysis. Noticeably, the water-only synthesized α-PtO(2) NCs and their derivative Pt NCs all exhibit much higher oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities and stabilities than that of the state-of-art Pt/C electrocatalysts. This study provides an example on the organics-free synthesis of α-PtO(2) and Pt NCs as promising cathode catalysts for fuel cell applications and, particularly, this simple, straightforward method may open a new way for the synthesis of other "clean" functional nanomaterials.     

The application of scanning electrochemical microscopy to the discovery of Pd–W electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction that demonstrate high activity, stability, and methanol tolerance

An array of Pd–W alloys was fabricated, and the electrocatalytic activity of the alloys for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic media was screened by scanning electrochemical microscopy. The Pd_0.7W_0.3 showed the highest activity for the ORR, close to that for Pd_0.8Co_0.2 and Pt. A Pd–W electrocatalyst loaded on carbon black was formed by the NaBH₄-reduction method, exhibiting high activity and stability, suggesting that it is a good candidate for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell cathode.     

Structure–reactivity relationships in Chevrel phase electrocatalysts for small-molecule reduction reactions

Chevrel phases, M_xMo₆X₈ (M = metal intercalant, X = chalcogen), constitute a family of materials with composition-dependent physicochemical properties that have shown promising electrocatalytic activity for various small-molecule reduction reactions. The wide range of possible compositions among the Chevrel phase family offers the opportunity to tune the local and electronic structure of discrete Mo₆X₈ cluster units within the extended M_xMo₆X₈ framework. Thus, making them an ideal platform for studying structure–function relationships and generating design principles for improved electrocatalytic reactivity. This review summarizes the state of the art in experimental and computational evaluations of Chevrel phases as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution, CO₂ reduction, and nitrogen reduction reactions. We aim to elucidate the uncharted small-molecule electrochemical reactivity of Chevrel phases as a function of composition and consequently guide the design of promising multinary chalcogenides for energy conversion reactions.     

Tunable activity in electrochemical reduction of oxygen by gold–polyaniline porous nanocomposites

Oxygen electrochemical reduction on gold–polyaniline (Au–PANI) porous nanocomposite-modified glassy carbon electrode in basic media was described. The as-prepared Au–PANI porous nanocomposite showed superior tunable activity for electrochemical reduction of oxygen. The specific surface area of Au–PANI porous nanocomposites was evaluated to be about 11.3 m² g⁻¹ through a convenient voltammetric approach. Rotating ring-disk electrode experiments further demonstrated the number of electrons exchanged in oxygen reduction increased from 2e to 4e with increasing the trigger potential from 300, to 500, 700 mV. The tunable activity in electrochemical reduction of oxygen was achieved as a result of positive potential-induced formation and reduction of Au surface oxide. However, the tunable oxygen reduction reaction is fit for applying potential in a linear positive-going potential sweep. Irreversible ORR tunability was found after a more active surface formed at 700 mV. To optimize the applied potential window on these Au-based porous materials has potential applications such as in electrochemical sensing, fuel cells, or getting rid of the interference from the coexisted substances.     

High activity of Pt–Rh supported on C–ITO for ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium

Research on Chemical Intermediates - PtRh/C–ITO electrocatalysts were prepared in a single-step method using H2PtCl6·6H2O and RhCl3·xH2O as metal sources, sodium borohydride as the...