Size-Controllable Synthesis of Trimetallic RhPdPt Island-Shaped Nanoalloys with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Performance for Ethanol Oxidation in Alkaline Medium

• Published in: Chemistry, an Asian journal Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. 608 - 613
• Main Authors: Huang, Da-Bing, He, Pei-Lei, Yuan, Qiang, Wang, Xun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.03.2015; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Alloys; Aqueous solutions; Chemistry; ethanol oxidation; fuel cells; Heuristic; island nanostructure; Nanocrystals; Oxidation; platinum; trimetallic nanoalloy; fuel cells; island nanostructure; platinum; ethanol oxidation; trimetallic nanoalloy
• ISSN: 1861-4728; 1861-471X
• DOI: 10.1002/asia.201403310

Size‐controllable, high‐yield, island‐shaped RhPdPt trimetallic nanocrystals with sub‐2.0 nm islands have been successfully synthesized through a facile aqueous solution approach. The results of X‐ray diffraction (XRD), energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) line scanning and elemental mapping analysis showed the as‐synthesized RhPdPt nanocrystals are alloy structures. These island‐shaped RhPdPt trimetallic nanoalloys showed a composition‐dependent electrocatalytic performance for ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium. Due to the special structure and intermetallic synergies, the Rh10Pd40Pt50 nanoalloys exhibited an enhanced catalytic activity and durability relative to island‐shaped Pd50Pt50 bimetallic nanoalloys and commercial Pt black. The peak current density for Rh10Pd40Pt50 nanoalloys was 1.81 and 1.38 times that for commercial Pt black and Pd50Pt50 nanoalloys, respectively. In addition, the peak potential on Rh10Pd40Pt50 nanoalloys decreased 42 mV relative to commercial Pt black and Pd50Pt50 nanoalloys. Better together: High‐yield, island‐shaped RhPdPt trimetallic nanoalloys with sub‐2.0 nm islands were achieved through a facile, environmentally friendly, aqueous approach. Due to the special structure and intermetallic synergies, the Rh10Pd40Pt50 nanoalloys exhibited an enhanced catalytic activity and durability relative to island‐shaped Pd50Pt50 bimetallic nanoalloys and commercial Pt black for ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium.