Architecture of PtFe/C catalyst with high activity and durability for oxygen reduction reaction

• Published in: Nano research Vol. 7; no. 10; pp. 1519 - 1527
• Main Authors: Li, Jiayuan, Wang, Guoxiong, Wang, Jing, Miao, Shu, Wei, Mingming, Yang, Fan, Yu, Liang, Bao, Xinhe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Tsinghua University Press 01.10.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acids; Adsorption; Alloys; Architecture; Atomic/Molecular Structure and Spectra; Biomedicine; Biotechnology; Catalysts; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Durability; Electrolytes; Electrons; High temperature; Iron; Leaching; Materials Science; Nanotechnology; Polytetrafluoroethylenes; Radiation; Reduction; Research Article; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Surface chemistry; X-ray diffraction; X-rays; X射线光电子能谱; 体系结构; 氧还原反应; 碳/碳; 耐久性; 聚四氟乙烯; 铂/碳催化剂; 高活性; China; proton exchange membrane fuel cell; Pt; activity; durability; oxygen reduction reaction; Fe@Pt-FeO; architecture
• ISSN: 1998-0124; 1998-0000
• DOI: 10.1007/s12274-014-0513-0

A PtFe/C catalyst has been synthesized by impregnation and high-temperature reduction followed by acid-leaching. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray atomic near edge spectroscopy characterization reveal that PtgFe alloy formation occurs during high-temperature reduction and that unstable Fe species are dissolved into acid solution. The difference in Fe concentration from the core region to the surface and strong O-Fe bonding may drive the outward diffusion of Fe to the highly corrugated Pt-skeleton, and the resulting highly dispersed surface FeOx is stable in acidic medium, leading to the construction of a PtBFe@Pt-FeOx architecture. The as prepared PtFe/C catalyst demonstrates a higher activity and comparable durability for the oxygen reduction reaction compared with a Pt/C catalyst, which might be due to the synergetic effect of surface and subsurface Fe species in the PtFe/C catalyst.