Preparation and characterization of carbon-supported PtTi alloy electrocatalysts

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 175; no. 2; pp. 794 - 799
• Main Authors: Ding, Errun, More, Karren L., He, Ting
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.01.2008; Elsevier Sequoia
• Subjects: Alloys; Applied sciences; Electrocatalysts; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Nanoparticles; Oxygen reduction reaction; PtTi; Nanoparticles; Electrocatalysts; Oxygen reduction reaction; Alloys; PtTi; Platinum Titanium Alloys; Particle size; Thermal decomposition; Nanoparticle; Dispersive spectrometry; Characterization; Transmission electron microscopy; Preparation; Photoelectron spectrometry; X ray diffractometry; Performance; Catalyst activity; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Catalyst
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2007.10.010

Carbon-supported PtTi alloy nanoparticles with well-controlled particle size, dispersity, and composition uniformity, have been synthesized by thermal decomposition and reduction of Pt and Ti precursors at elevated temperatures. The synthesized alloy nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The catalytic activities of these alloys towards molecular oxygen electro-reduction were screened by the hydrodynamic RDE technique. Among the compositions tested, Pt 75Ti 25 displayed the highest catalytic activity and had a twofold improvement in catalytic performance as compared to a benchmark Pt/C catalyst.