Triple-phase interfacial engineering Pt-CeO2-nitrogen-doped carbon electrocatalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 609; p. 155302
• Main Authors: Zhao, Zi-Gang, Guo, Pan, Shen, Li-Xiao, Liu, Yang-Yang, Zhang, Zi-Yu, Tu, Feng-Di, Ma, Miao, Liu, Xiao-Wei, Zhang, Yun-Long, Zhao, Lei, Shao, Guang-Jie, Wang, Zhen-Bo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 30.01.2023
• Subjects: Cerium oxide; Platinum-based catalyst; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Triple-phase interfacial; Platinum-based catalyst; Triple-phase interfacial; Cerium oxide; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2022.155302

[Display omitted] •The Pt NPs are anchored between CeO2 and NC to form a three-phase interface structure in Pt/CeO2-NC.•20% Pt/CeO2-NC shows great ORR performance in acid media.•The Pt NPs are dispersed uniformly on CeO2-NC due to the metal-support interaction.•The catalytic activity is enhanced by synergistic effect between Pt and CeO2-NC.•CeO2 can be used as a free radical scavenger to enhance stability in PEMFCs. Improving the activity and durability of Pt electrocatalysts is an important pathway to reduce the dosage of precious Pt for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Herein, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) derived nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) supported Pt-CeO2 composites with abundant triple-phase interfacial conjunction are demonstrated. The CeO2 can modulate the electronic structure of Pt via electronic effects, thus modulating the energy of oxygen intermediates absorbed on Pt sites. Besides, the CeO2 also can stabilize the Pt nanoparticles by metal-support interactions. Therefore, the as-fabricated catalyst shows ultrahigh activity and durability towards oxygen reduction reaction. The half-wave potential is 0.922 V, and mass activity is 0.165 mA·ugPt−1 in 0.1 M HClO4. After 10, 000 cycles of accelerated durability tests (ADTs), the E1/2 decreases by only 10 mV. In addition, the 20% Pt/CeO2-NC (power density: 1.08 W·cm−2, cathode: 0.20 mgPt·cm−2) shows more excellent electrochemical activity and durability with lower cathode Pt loading than 20% commercial Pt/C (power density: 1.03 W·cm−2, cathode: 0.40 mgPt·cm−2) in PEMFC single cell measurements. This study provides a novel strategy for constructing a Pt-metal oxide-support triple-phase interface to improve the electrocatalytic performance of catalysts.