Ternary Alloy Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Authors

Jin Luo, Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York 13902, USA;
Lefu Yang, Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York 13902, USA;College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China;
Binghui Chen, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China;
Chuanjian Zhong, Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York 13902, USA;Follow

Corresponding Author

Chuanjian Zhong(cjzhong@binghamton.edu)

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell represents an important electrochemical energy conversion device with many attractive features in terms of efficiency of energy conversion and minimization of environmental pollution. However, the large overpotential for oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode and the low activity, poor durability and high cost of platinum-based catalysts in the fuel cells constitute a focal point of major barriers to the commercialization of fuel cells. The development of nanostructured catalysts shows promises to addresses some of the challenging problems. The ability to engineer the composition and nanostructure of nanoalloy catalysts is important for developing active, robust and low-cost catalysts for fuel cell applications. This article highlights some of the recent insights into the catalytic properties of ternary nanoalloy catalysts prepared by molecularly-engineered synthesis and thermochemically-controlled processing, focusing on oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells. This approach has demonstrated the abilities to control size, composition, and nanoscale alloying of binary and ternary nanoalloys. A highly-active ternary nanoalloy catalyst consisting of platinum, nickel and cobalt that is supported on carbon (PtNiCo/C) will be discussed as an example, highlighting the importance of nanoscale tuning of structures and composition for the design of fuel cell catalysts. The mass activity of selected PtNiCo/C catalysts has been shown much higher electrocatalytic activity than those observed for their binary counterparts and commercial Pt/C catalysts. Selected examples will also be shown that the catalytic activity can be tuned by the ternary composition. The structural and synergistic properties of the ternary nanoalloy catalysts for the enhancement of the electrocatalytic activity will also be discussed.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

ternary nanoalloys, nanocatalysts, electrocatalytic activity, oxygen reduction reaction, fuel cells

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.61558/2993-074X.2618

Publication Date

2012-12-28

Online Available Date

2012-08-15

Revised Date

2012-08-11

Received Date

2012-07-13

Recommended Citation

Jin Luo, Lefu Yang, Binghui Chen, Chuanjian Zhong. Ternary Alloy Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2012 , 18(6): Article 2.
DOI: 10.61558/2993-074X.2618
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol18/iss6/2