Fabrication of PtCuCo double-layered rhombic dodecahedral nanoframes for efficient methanol electrooxidation catalysis

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 914; p. 165374
• Main Authors: Wang, Jingwei, Yan, Hongliang, Li, Xinxue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 05.09.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts; Copper; Double-layered nanoframes; Enrichment; Methanol; Methanol oxidation reaction; Nanocrystals; Oxidation; Pt-based alloy nanostructure; PtCuCo nanocrystal; Substitution reactions; Synthesis; Methanol oxidation reaction; PtCuCo nanocrystal; Double-layered nanoframes; Pt-based alloy nanostructure
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.165374

Pt-based nanoframes have great application prospects due to their inherent large surface-to-mass ratio and high atom utilization. To date, there have been numerous reports on the synthesis of single-layered nanoframes, but the preparations of double-layered nanoframes have rarely been reported. Here, PtCuCo double-layered rhombic dodecahedral nanoframes (DNFs) were successfully prepared via a one-pot solvothermal synthesis and an acid etching post-treatment. In the first step, PtCuCo heterogeneous nanocrystals (HNCs) were constructed each consisting of a Cu-enriched core, PtCuCo double-layered nanoframes, and a Co-enriched shell, and in the second step, PtCuCo DNFs were obtained by acid-assisted selective removal of the leachable components. Evolution experiments reveal that the galvanic substitution reaction between Pt(II) precursor and Cu-enriched nuclei, the following outer-layer deposition of Co, and the atomic migration of Pt are responsible for the formation of PtCuCo HNCs. Remarkably, the electrocatalytic test of PtCuCo DNFs toward methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) shows a mass activity and a specific activity of 1.25 A mg−1Pt and 4.53 mA cm−2, which are 2.7 and 4.9 times higher than those of commercial Pt/C catalyst. Moreover, the PtCuCo DNFs exhibit improved electrocatalytic stability for MOR compared to Pt/C catalyst. [Display omitted] PtCuCo double-layered rhombic dodecahedral nanoframes were prepared and exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic performances for the methanol oxidation reaction. •PtCuCo double-layered nanoframes were prepared via a facile approach.•The formation mechanism of the PtCuCo nanoframes was analyzed in detail.•The PtCuCo nanoframes exhibit superior catalytic performances compared to commercial Pt/C catalyst.