Unstable Ni leaching in MOF-derived PtNi-C catalyst with improved performance for alcohols fuel electro-oxidation

Significance of unstable species leaching was for the first time demonstrated on MOF-derived catalysts by taking PtNi-C as an example, that was instructive for the relevant catalyst fabrication and performance study. PtNi-C catalyst was synthesized by combining Pt nanoparticles with Ni-BTC after annealing in the tube furnace and the unstable Ni species can be easily leached out in nitric acid, and the stable PtNi nanoparticles trapped in the graphite carbon layer were obtained. The greatly improved catalytic ability for alcohol fuels oxidation was verified by comparing the fresh and acid leached catalysts in terms of the high peak current density, specific and mass activity and rapid charge transfer kinetics and high catalytic stability. The current work guides the importance of unstable assistant promoter removal for the MOF derived catalysts.