Self-Assembled Dendritic Pt Nanostructure with High-Index Facets as Highly Active and Durable Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction

Metal Cocatalyst Engineering in Metal-Semiconductor Hybrid Photocatalysts Achieves a Fivefold Enhancement of Hydrogen Evolution

This study explores the optimal morphology of photochemical hydrogen evolution catalysts in a one-dimensional system. Systematic engineering of metal tips on precisely defined CdSe@CdS dot-in-rods is conducted to exert control over morphology, composition, and both factors. The outcome yields an optimized configuration, a Au-Pt core-shell structure with a rough Pt surface (Au@r-Pt), which exhibits a remarkable fivefold increase in quantum efficiency, reaching 86 % at 455 nm and superior hydrogen evolution rates under visible and AM1.5 G irradiation conditions with prolonged stability. Kinetic investigations using photoelectrochemical and time-resolved measurements demonstrate a greater extent and extended lifetime of the charge-separated state on the tips as well as rapid water reduction kinetics on high-energy surfaces. This approach sheds light on the critical role of cocatalysts in hybrid photocatalytic systems for achieving high performance.

Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries: Advances, Challenges, and Prospects

Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (Re-ZABs) are one of the most promising next-generation batteries that can hold more energy while being cost-effective and safer than existing devices. Nevertheless, zinc dendrites, non-portability, and limited charge-discharge cycles have long been obstacles to the commercialization of Re-ZABs. Over the past 30 years, milestone breakthroughs have been made in technical indicators (safety, high energy density, and long battery life), battery components (air cathode, zinc anode, and gas diffusion layer), and battery configurations (flexibility and portability), however, a comprehensive review on advanced design strategies for Re-ZABs system from multiple angles is still lacking. This review underscores the progress and strategies proposed so far to pursuit the high-efficiency Re-ZABs system, including the aspects of rechargeability (from primary to rechargeable), air cathode (from unifunctional to bifunctional), zinc anode (from dendritic to stable), electrolytes (from aqueous to non-aqueous), battery configurations (from non-portable to portable), and industrialization progress (from laboratorial to practical). Critical appraisals of the advanced modification approaches (such as surface/interface modulation, nanoconfinement catalysis, defect electrochemistry, synergistic electrocatalysis, etc.) are highlighted for cost-effective flexible Re-ZABs with good sustainability and high energy density. Finally, insights are further rendered properly for the future research directions of advanced zinc-air batteries.

Catalyst Development for High-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (HT-PEMFC) Applications

A constant increase in global emission standard is causing fuel cell (FC) technology to gain importance. Over the last two decades, a great deal of research has been focused on developing more active catalysts to boost the performance of high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFC), as well as their durability. Due to material degradation at high-temperature conditions, catalyst design becomes challenging. Two main approaches are suggested: (i) alloying platinum (Pt) with low-cost transition metals to reduce Pt usage, and (ii) developing novel catalyst support that anchor metal particles more efficiently while inhibiting corrosion phenomena. In this comprehensive review, the most recent platinum group metal (PGM) and platinum group metal free (PGM-free) catalyst development is detailed, as well as the development of alternative carbon (C) supports for HT-PEMFCs.

Pt cocatalyst morphology on semiconductor nanorod photocatalysts enhances charge trapping and water reduction

In photocatalysis, metal-semiconductor hybrid structures have been proposed for ideal photocatalytic systems. In this study, we investigate the effect of morphology and surface nature of Pt cocatalysts on photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity in Pt-tipped CdSe nanorods. Three distinct morphologies of Pt cocatalysts were synthesized and employed as visible light photocatalysts. The rough tips exhibit the highest activity, followed by the round and cubic tips. Kinetic investigations using transient absorption spectroscopy reveal that the cubic tips exhibit lower charge-separated states feasible for reacting with water and water reduction rates due to their defectless surface facets. In contrast, the rough tips show a similar charge-separation value but a two-fold higher surface reaction rate than the round tips, resulting in a significant enhancement of hydrogen evolution. These findings highlight the importance of rational design on metal cocatalysts in addition to the main semiconductor bodies for maximizing photocatalytic activities.

Surface Engineering of Carbon-Supported Platinum as a Route to Electrocatalysts with Superior Durability and Activity for PEMFC Cathodes

Hydrogen fuel cells are regarded as a promising new carbon mitigation strategy to realize carbon neutrality. The exploitation of robust and efficient cathode catalysts is thus vital to the commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Herein, we demonstrate a facile and scalable surface engineering route to achieve superior durability and high activity of a Pt-based material as a PEMFC cathode catalyst through a controllable liquid-phase reduction approach. The proposed surface engineering strategy by modifying Pt/C reduces the oxygen content on the carbon support and also decreases the surface defects on Pt nanoparticles (NPs), which effectively alleviate the corrosion of carbon and inhibit the detachment, agglomeration, and growth of Pt NPs. The resulting catalyst exhibits superior durability after a 10,000 potential cycling test in an acid electrolyte─outperforming commercial Pt/C. Moreover, the catalyst also demonstrates an improved oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity in comparison to commercial Pt/C by virtue of the high content of metallic Pt and the weakened Pt-OH bonding that releases more Pt active sites for ORR catalysis. Most importantly, the developed catalyst shows outstanding PEMFC performance and excellent long-term durability over 50 h of a constant-current test and 100 h of a load-cycling operation. This effective route provides a new avenue for exploiting robust Pt-based catalysts with superior activity in practical applications of PEMFCs.

Surfactant-Assisted Synthesis of Pt Nanocubes Using Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Nanogels

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) nanogels were prepared by emulsion polymerization using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and employed as a capping agent in platinum nanoparticle (Pt NP) synthesis by liquid-phase reduction with hydrogen gas. When the PNIPAM nanogels were used without removing SDS, that is, a slight amount of SDS was included in the reaction solution, Pt nanocubes (NCs) were predominantly produced (>80%). The proportion of the resultant Pt NCs was much higher than that obtained using the PNIPAM linear polymer (∼60%). To clarify the effects of the three-dimensional polymer network and SDS, we synthesized Pt NPs using the PNIPAM nanogel without SDS (SDS-free PNIPAM nanogel) and found that Pt NCs are rarely formed, and most NPs obtained have an irregular shape. When only SDS was used as a capping agent, NCs were hardly obtained, but other polyhedral NPs were formed. Furthermore, the use of SDS together with the PNIPAM polymer led to the decrease in the proportion of the Pt NCs compared with that obtained using only the linear polymer. These results indicate that the enhancement of the Pt NC proportion using the PNIPAM nanogel with SDS is attributable to not only the three-dimensional polymer network of the PNIPAM nanogel but also the assist of SDS as a capping agent.

Main Descriptors To Correlate Structures with the Performances of Electrocatalysts

Traditional trial and error approaches to search for hydrogen/oxygen redox catalysts with high activity and stability are typically tedious and inefficient. There is an urgent need to identify the most important parameters that determine the catalytic performance and so enable the development of design strategies for catalysts. In the past decades, several descriptors have been developed to unravel structure-performance relationships. This Minireview summarizes reactivity descriptors in electrocatalysis including adsorption energy descriptors involving reaction intermediates, electronic descriptors represented by a d-band center, structural descriptors, and universal descriptors, and discusses their merits/limitations. Understanding the trends in electrocatalytic performance and predicting promising catalytic materials using reactivity descriptors should enable the rational construction of catalysts. Artificial intelligence and machine learning have also been adopted to discover new and advanced descriptors. Finally, linear scaling relationships are analyzed and several strategies proposed to circumvent the established scaling relationships and overcome the constraints imposed on the catalytic performance.

Facile Room-Temperature Synthesis of a Highly Active and Robust Single-Crystal Pt Multipod Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Economical production of highly active and robust Pt catalysts on a large scale is vital to the broad commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Here, we report a low-cost, one-pot process for large-scale synthesis of single-crystal Pt multipods with abundant high-index facets, in an aqueous solution without any template or surfactant. A composite consisting of the Pt multipods (40 wt %) and carbon displays a specific activity of 0.242 mA/cm² and a mass activity of 0.109 A/mg at 0.9 V (versus a reversible hydrogen electrode) for oxygen reduction reaction, corresponding to ∼124% and ∼100% enhancement compared with those of the state-of-the-art commercial Pt/C catalyst (0.108 mA/cm² and 0.054 A/mg). The single-crystal Pt multipods also show excellent stability when tested for 4500 cycles in a potential range of 0.6-1.1 V and another 2000 cycles in 0-1.2 V. More importantly, the superior performance of the Pt multipods/C catalyst is also demonstrated in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), achieving a power density of 774 mW/cm² (1.29 A/cm²) at 0.6 V and a peak power density of ∼1 W/cm², representing 34% and 20% enhancement compared with those of a MEA based on the state-of-the-art commercial Pt/C catalyst (576 and 834 mW/cm²).

Electrochemical Analysis for Demonstrating CO Tolerance of Catalysts in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

Since trace amounts of CO in H2 gas produced by steam reforming of methane causes severe poisoning of Pt-based catalysts in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), research has been mainly devoted to exploring CO-tolerant catalysts. To test the electrochemical property of CO-tolerant catalysts, chronoamperometry is widely used under a CO/H2 mixture gas atmosphere as an essential method. However, in most cases of catalysts with high CO tolerance, the conventional chronoamperometry has difficulty in showing the apparent performance difference. In this study, we propose a facile and precise test protocol to evaluate the CO tolerance via a combination of short-term chronoamperometry and a hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) test. The degree of CO poisoning is systematically controlled by changing the CO adsorption time. The HOR polarization curve is then measured and compared with that measured without CO adsorption. When the electrochemical properties of PtRu alloy catalysts with different atomic ratios of Pt to Ru are investigated, contrary to conventional chronoamperometry, these catalysts exhibit significant differences in their CO tolerance at certain CO adsorption times. The present work will facilitate the development of catalysts with extremely high CO tolerance and provide insights into the improvement of electrochemical methods.

Spinel MnCo2 O4 Nanoparticles Supported on Three-Dimensional Graphene with Enhanced Mass Transfer as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

The rational design of highly efficient and durable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts is critical for the commercial application of fuel cells. Herein, three-dimensional graphene (3D-G) is synthesized by the template method, which used coal tar pitch as the carbon source and nano MgO as the template. Then, spinel MnCo₂ O₄ is in situ supported on the 3D-G by a facile hydrothermal method, giving MnCo₂ O₄ /3D-G. The resultant MnCo₂ O₄ /3D-G retains the multilayered mesoporous graphene structure where MnCo₂ O₄ nanoparticles are deposited on the inner walls of pores in the 3D-G. The catalyst MnCo₂ O₄ /3D-G shows high electrocatalytic activity with a half-wave potential of 0.81 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, which is clearly superior to those of MnCo₂ O₄ /reduced graphene oxide (0.78 V), MnCo₂ O₄ /carbon nanotubes (0.74 V), MnCo₂ O₄ /C (0.72 V), and 20 wt % Pt/C (0.80 V). The electron transfer number of MnCo₂ O₄ /3D-G indicates a four-electron process of ORR. The durability test demonstrates that the MnCo₂ O₄ /3D-G catalyst has a much better durability than 20 wt % Pt/C. Our work makes an inspiring strategy to prepare high-performance electrocatalysts for the development of fuel cells.

Bimetallic Platinum-Rhodium Alloy Nanodendrites as Highly Active Electrocatalyst for the Ethanol Oxidation Reaction

Rationally designing and manipulating composition and morphology of precious metal-based bimetallic nanostructures can markedly enhance their electrocatalytic performance, including selectivity, activity, and durability. We herein report the synthesis of bimetallic PtRh alloy nanodendrites (ANDs) with tunable composition by a facile complex-reduction synthetic method under hydrothermal conditions. The structural/morphologic features, formation mechanism, and electrocatalytic performance of PtRh ANDs are investigated thoroughly by various physical characterization and electrochemical methods. The preformed Rh crystal nuclei effectively catalyze the reduction of Pt²⁺ precursor, resulting in PtRh alloy generation due to the catalytic growth and atoms interdiffusion process. The Pt atoms deposition distinctly interferes in Rh atoms deposition on Rh crystal nuclei, resulting in dendritic morphology of PtRh ANDs. For the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR), PtRh ANDs display the chemical composition and solution pH co-dependent electrocatalytic activity. Because of the alloy effect and particular morphologic feature, Pt₁Rh₁ ANDs with optimized composition exhibit better reactivity and stability for the EOR than commercial Pt nanocrystals electrocatalyst.

Gold-Copper Aerogels with Intriguing Surface Electronic Modulation as Highly Active and Stable Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction and Borohydride Oxidation

We, for the first time, report the successful synthesis of self-assembled AuCu aerogels by a one-pot kinetically controlled approach. A startling electronic modulation effect of Cu on Au was observed across the entire alloy composition range, for which the optimal upshift of the d-band center for the highest activities was 0.24 eV. Owing to the combination of a nanoporous architecture and a robust electronic effect, the Au₅₂ Cu₄₈ aerogels exhibited better catalytic performance for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the direct borohydride oxidation reaction (BOR) than commercial Pt/C catalysts. The specific and mass ORR activities were 4.5 and 6.3 times higher, respectively, on the Au₅₂ Cu₄₈ aerogels than on Pt/C with negligible activity decay even after 10 000 cycles and a duration of 40 000 s. For the BOR, the Au₅₂ Cu₄₈ aerogels also exhibited far better selectivity and activity than Pt/C. The new AuCu aerogels show great potential as a promising alternative for Pt-based catalysts in fuel cells.

Porous Pt3Ni with enhanced activity and durability towards oxygen reduction reaction

The size of nanocrystals (NCs) is regarded as one of the vital factors determining their electrochemical performance. To achieve high electrochemical activity and durability at the same time still remains a big challenge. This work has demonstrated the successful synthesis of Pt₃Ni nanocrystals of large size with porous characteristics (PNC-Pt₃Ni). The mass and specific activity of the as-prepared catalyst are 6 and 6.6 times more than those of commercial Pt/C at 0.9 volts versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), respectively. More importantly, PNC-Pt₃Ni prevails against a durability test (23.7% loss of mass activity after 10 000 potential cycling) with little change to the porous morphology under harsh experimental conditions. Density functional theory calculations show a much lower activation energy for PNC-Pt₃Ni during the process of dissociation of the oxygen molecule adsorbed on the surface of the catalyst, which may account for the improvement in the catalytic activity. The lower series resistance for PNC-Pt₃Ni is also verified by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data, resulting from fewer grain boundaries for nanocrystals with large sizes. This exciting work contributes a new strategy for the optimization of electrochemical performance and durability.

Porous Pt₃Ni nanocrystals of large size possess enhanced electrochemical activity and durability towards oxygen reduction reaction is preferred.