Facile Synthesis of Pt-Cu Alloy Nanodendrites as High-Performance Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Authors

Liu-xuan LUO, Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, MOE Key Laboratory of Power & Machinery Engineering;
Guang-hua WEI, SJTU-Paris Tech Elite Institute of Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China);
Shui-yun SHEN, Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, MOE Key Laboratory of Power & Machinery Engineering;
Feng-juan ZHU, Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, MOE Key Laboratory of Power & Machinery Engineering;
Chang-chun KE, Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, MOE Key Laboratory of Power & Machinery Engineering;
Xiao-hui YAN, Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, MOE Key Laboratory of Power & Machinery Engineering;
Jun-liang ZHANG, Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, MOE Key Laboratory of Power & Machinery Engineering;Follow

Corresponding Author

Jun-liang ZHANG(junliang.zhang@sjtu.edu.cn)

Abstract

Structures and compositions have significant effects on the catalytic properties of nanomaterials. Herein, a facile etching-based method was employed to synthesize Pt-Cu nanodendrites (NDs) with uniform and homogeneous alloy structures for enhancing oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The formation of dendritic morphology was ascribed to the etching effect caused by the oxidative etchants of the Br^-/O₂ pair. The atomic ratio of Pt/Cu in Pt-Cu NDs could be easily tuned by altering the ratio of the Pt/Cu precursors, without deteriorating the dendritic morphology. The most active carbon-supported Pt₁Cu₁ NDs (Pt₁Cu₁ NDs/C) exhibited the area-specific activity of 1.17 mA·cm^-2@0.9 V (vs. RHE), which is ~5.32 times relative to that of commercial Pt/C. Moreover, Pt₁Cu₁ NDs/C also possessed a remarkable electrochemical durability, preserving its superior ORR catalytic activity even after 12000 potential cycles during the accelerated degradation test. Such excellent catalytic activity and electrochemical durability of Pt₁Cu₁ NDs/C toward ORR were resulted from the combined electronic and structural effects, which are imparted by the Pt-Cu alloy structure and the dendritic morphology.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Pt, alloy, electrocatalysts, nanodendrites, oxygen reduction reaction

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.180856

Publication Date

2018-12-28

Online Available Date

2018-10-29

Revised Date

2018-10-15

Received Date

2018-09-28

Recommended Citation

Liu-xuan LUO, Guang-hua WEI, Shui-yun SHEN, Feng-juan ZHU, Chang-chun KE, Xiao-hui YAN, Jun-liang ZHANG. Facile Synthesis of Pt-Cu Alloy Nanodendrites as High-Performance Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2018 , 24(6): 733-739.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.180856
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol24/iss6/14