Ultrafine amorphous PtNiP nanoparticles supported on carbon as efficiency electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2014-08, Vol.259, p.87-91
• Main Authors: Ma, Yanjiao, Li, Hao, Wang, Hui, Ji, Shan, Linkov, Vladimir, Wang, Rongfang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amorphous; Catalysis; Catalysts: preparations and properties; Chemistry; Electrocatalysts; Electrochemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Miscellaneous (electroosmosis, electrophoresis, electrochromism, electrocrystallization, ...); Oxygen reduction reaction; Platinum alloy; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.02.029

Design of amorphous noble metallic nanoparticle electrocatalysts is an important fundamental and applied research challenge. Here, we describe new findings of a detailed investigation of the amorphous platinum–nickel–phosphorus nanoparticles supported on carbon (PtNiPa/C), which were characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction. Compared to the crystal platinum–nickel–phosphorus nanoparticles supported on carbon (PtNiPc/C) and PtNi/C, PtNiPa/C catalyst has more positive half-wave potential and higher mass activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In addition, the ORR on PtNiPa/C electrode follows the 4 electron reaction pathway. Ultrafine amorphous PtNiP nanoparticles supported on carbon showed a higher activity than PtNi and crystalline PtNiP nanoparticles supported on carban for oxygen reduction reaction, which is attributed to the small particle size and electron effect. [Display omitted] •Ultrafine amorphous PtNiP nanoparticles on carbon (PtNiPa/C) were prepared.•PtNiPa/C showed higher catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) than PtNi/C.•The high activity of PtNiPa/C derived from the small particle size and electron effect.