Ultralow content of Pt on Pd–Co–Cu/C ternary nanoparticles with excellent electrocatalytic activity and durability for the oxygen reduction reaction

• Published in: Nano energy 2016-09, Vol.27 (C), p.475-481
• Main Authors: Liu, Sufen, Xiao, Weiping, Wang, Jie, Zhu, Jing, Wu, Zexing, Xin, Huolin, Wang, Deli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Core-shell; Electrocatalysis; Fuel cells; MATERIALS SCIENCE; Oxygen reduction reaction; Pd6CoCu/C nanoparticles; Pt monolayer
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.07.038

Optimizing the utilization of Pt to catalyze the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of vital importance in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. One of the strategies is to spread Pt atoms over the surface of a substrate to increase the surface area. Here we report a facile method to synthesize Pd6CoCu@Pt/C core-shell nanoparticles with an ultralow amount of Pt. It was found that Pt-coated layer on Pd6CoCu cores plays a vital role in enhancing the ORR activity and the cycling stability. The half-wave potential of Pd6CoCu@Pt/C positively shifts about 50mV and 17mV relative to Pd6CoCu/C and Pt/C, respectively. The Pt mass activity on Pd6CoCu@Pt/C was calculated to be about 27 times higher than that on Pt/C catalysts at 0.9V. Moreover, the Pd6CoCu@Pt/C nanoparticles exhibit superior stability with almost no decay for the ORR polarization curves during 10,000 potential cycles and the core-shell structure remains with only a slight increase in the thickness of the Pt overlayer. These findings provide a methodology for synthesizing highly efficient catalytic materials for the cathodic application in fuel cells. A facile method is reported to synthesize Pd6CoCu@Pt/C core-shell nanoparticles with an ultralow amount of Pt. It is found that Pt-coated layer on Pd6CoCu cores plays a vital role in enhancing the ORR activity and the cycling stability. The half-wave potential of Pd6CoCu@Pt/C positively shifts about 50mV and 17mV relative to Pd6CoCu/C and Pt/C, respectively. The Pt mass activity on Pd6CoCu@Pt/C was calculated to be about 27 times higher than that on Pt/C catalysts at 0.9V. Moreover, the Pd6CoCu@Pt/C nanoparticles exhibit superior stability with almost no decay. [Display omitted] •Pd–Co–Cu ternary alloy nanoparticles are prepared via a simple impregnation reduction method.•Ultralow Content of Pt is coated on Pd6CoCu/C nanoparticle by using a spontaneous displacement strategy.•The core-shell Pd6CoCu@Pt/C nanoparticles exhibit superior electrocatalyst activity and stability for ORR relative to Pt/C.