nl9b01221_si_001.pdf (2.51 MB)
Catalytic System Based on Sub‑2 nm Pt Particles and Its Extraordinary Activity and Durability for Oxygen Reduction
journal contribution
posted on 2019-07-17, 18:38 authored by Haoyan Cheng, Zhenming Cao, Zitao Chen, Ming Zhao, Minghao Xie, Zhiheng Lyu, Zhihong Zhu, Miaofang Chi, Younan XiaCarbon-supported
Pt nanoparticles are used as catalysts for a variety
of reactions including the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) key to
proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, but their catalytic performance
has long been plagued by detachment and sintering. Here we report
the in situ growth of sub-2 nm Pt particles on a
commercial carbon support via the galvanic reaction between a Pt(II)
precursor and a uniform film of amorphous Se predeposited on the support.
The residual Se could serve as a linker to strongly anchor the Pt
nanoparticles to the carbon surface, leading to a catalytic system
with extraordinary activity and durability toward ORR. Even after
20 000 cycles of accelerated durability test, the sub-2 nm
Pt particles were still dispersed well on the carbon support and maintained
a mass activity more than three-times as high as the pristine value
of a commercial Pt/C catalyst.