Alloyed Pt3M (M = Co, Ni) nanoparticles supported on S- and N-doped carbon nanotubes for the oxygen reduction reaction

• Published in: Beilstein journal of nanotechnology Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 1251 - 1269
• Main Authors: Louisia Stéphane, Thomas Yohann R J, Lecante Pierre, Heitzmann, Marie, Rosa, Axet M, Pierre-André, Jacques, Serp Philippe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frankfurt am Main Beilstein-Institut zur Föerderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften 2019; Beilstein-Institut
• Subjects: Alloying; Annealing; Carbon; Carbon nanotubes; Catalysis; Catalysts; Chemical vapor deposition; Cobalt; Corrosion resistance; Electrochemical analysis; Electrodes; Fuel cells; Full Research Paper; Hot pressing; Humidity; Hydrogen peroxide; Intermetallic compounds; ionic liquid; Ionic liquids; Nanoalloys; Nanoparticles; Nanoscience; Nanotechnology; nickel; Nitrogen; Organic chemistry; oxygen reduction reaction; Oxygen reduction reactions; platinum; proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC); Rotating disks; Screen printing; Size distribution; Sulfur; France
• ISSN: 2190-4286; 2190-4286
• DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.10.125

Sulfur- (S-CNT) and nitrogen-doped (N-CNT) carbon nanotubes have been produced by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (c-CVD) and were subject to an annealing treatment. These CNTs were used as supports for small (≈2 nm) Pt3M (M = Co or Ni) alloyed nanoparticles that have a very homogeneous size distribution (in spite of the high metal loading of ≈40 wt % Pt), using an ionic liquid as a stabilizer. The electrochemical surface area, the activity for the oxygen reduction reaction and the amount of H2O2 generated during the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) have been evaluated in a rotating ring disk electrode experiment. The Pt3M/N-CNT catalysts revealed excellent electrochemical properties compared to a commercial Pt3Co/Vulcan XC-72 catalyst. The nature of the carbon support plays a key role in determining the properties of the metal nanoparticles, on the preparation of the catalytic layer, and on the electrocatalytic performance in the ORR. On N-CNT supports, the specific activity followed the expected order Pt3Co > Pt3Ni, whereas on the annealed N-CNT support, the order was reversed.