Metal-organic frameworks derived platinum-cobalt bimetallic nanoparticles in nitrogen-doped hollow porous carbon capsules as a highly active and durable catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Vol. 225; pp. 496 - 503
• Main Authors: Ying, Jie, Li, Jing, Jiang, Gaopeng, Cano, Zachary Paul, Ma, Zhong, Zhong, Cheng, Su, Dong, Chen, Zhongwei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 05.06.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Bimetals; Carbon; Catalysis; Catalysts; Cobalt; Durability; Electrocatalysts; Fuel technology; Hollow porous capsules; Kinetics; Metal-organic frameworks; Metals; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Nitrogen; Nitrogen-doping; Oxygen; Oxygen reduction reaction; Oxygen reduction reactions; Platinum; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; PtCo bimetallic nanoparticles; Reaction kinetics; Surface area; PtCo bimetallic nanoparticles; Nitrogen-doping; Hollow porous capsules; Metal-organic frameworks; Oxygen reduction reaction
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.11.077

[Display omitted] •A new efficient method utilizing MOFs is developed to synthesize PtCo alloys.•Fine PtCo alloys within nitrogen-doped hollow porous carbon capsules are obtained.•The sample displays outstanding catalytic activity in oxygen reduction reaction.•The sample exhibits excellent catalytic durability and stability. Pt-based nanomaterials are regarded as the most efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, widespread adoption of PEMFCs requires solutions to major challenges encountered with ORR catalysts, namely high cost, sluggish kinetics, and low durability. Herein, a new efficient method utilizing Co-based metal-organic frameworks is developed to produce PtCo bimetallic nanoparticles embedded in unique nitrogen-doped hollow porous carbon capsules. The obtained catalyst demonstrates an outstanding ORR performance, with a mass activity that is 5.5 and 13.5 times greater than that of commercial Pt/C and Pt black, respectively. Most importantly, the product exhibits dramatically improved durability in terms of both electrochemically active surface area (ECAS) and mass activity compared to commercial Pt/C and Pt black catalysts. The remarkable ORR performance demonstrated here can be attributed to the structural features of the catalyst (its alloy structure, high dispersion and fine particle size) and the carbon support (its nitrogen dopant, large surface area and hollow porous structure).