Low-coordination sites in oxygen-reduction electrocatalysis: their roles and methods for removal

Selective dealloying of chemically disordered Pt-Ni bimetallic nanoparticles for the oxygen reduction reaction

Changes in electronic and compositional structures of Pt-Ni electrocatalysts with 44% of Ni fraction with repeated chemical dealloying have been studied. By comparing the Pt-enriched surfaces formed using hydroquinone and sulfuric acid as a leaching agent, we found that hydroquinone generated Pt-enriched surfaces exhibit the highest oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity after repeating the treatment twice. In particular, it was found that while sulfuric acid causes an uncontrollable dissolution of Ni clusters, the unique selectivity of hydroquinone allows the preferential dissolution of Ni atoms alloyed with Pt. Despite its wide usage in the field, the results show that traditional acid leaching is unsuitable for Pt-Ni alloys with a high Ni content and an incomplete alloying level. We finally proved that the unique and lasting selectivity of hydroquinone enables an incompletely alloyed Pt-Ni catalyst to obtain a highly ORR active Pt shell region without an extensive loss of Ni.

Adsorption Energy in Oxygen Electrocatalysis

Adsorption energy (AE) of reactive intermediate is currently the most important descriptor for electrochemical reactions (e.g., water electrolysis, hydrogen fuel cell, electrochemical nitrogen fixation, electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction, etc.), which can bridge the gap between catalyst's structure and activity. Tracing the history and evolution of AE can help to understand electrocatalysis and design optimal electrocatalysts. Focusing on oxygen electrocatalysis, this review aims to provide a comprehensive introduction on how AE is selected as the activity descriptor, the intrinsic and empirical relationships related to AE, how AE links the structure and electrocatalytic performance, the approaches to obtain AE, the strategies to improve catalytic activity by modulating AE, the extrinsic influences on AE from the environment, and the methods in circumventing linear scaling relations of AE. An outlook is provided at the end with emphasis on possible future investigation related to the obstacles existing between adsorption energy and electrocatalytic performance.

Advanced Pt-Based Core-Shell Electrocatalysts for Fuel Cell Cathodes

ConspectusProton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are highly efficient energy storage and conversion devices. Thus, the platinum group metal (PGM)-based catalysts which are the dominant choice for the PEMFCs have received extensive interest during the past couple of decades. However, the drawbacks in the existing PGM-based catalysts (i.e., high cost, slow kinetics, poor stability, etc.) still limit their applications in fuel cells. The Pt-based core-shell catalysts potentially alleviate these issues through the low Pt loading with the associated low cost and the high corrosion resistance and further improve the oxygen reduction reaction's (ORR's) activity and stability. This Account focuses on the synthetic strategies, catalytic mechanisms, factors influencing enhanced ORR performance, and applications in PEMFCs for the Pt-based core-shell catalysts. We first highlight the synthetic strategies for Pt-based core-shell catalysts including the galvanic displacement of an underpotentially deposited non-noble metal monolayer, thermal annealing, and dealloying methods, which can be scaled-up to meet the requirements of fuel cell operations. Subsequently, catalytic mechanisms such as the self-healing mechanism in the Pt monolayer on Pd core catalysts, the pinning effect of nitrogen (N) dopants in N-doped PtNi core-shell catalysts, and the ligand effect of the ordered intermetallic structure in L1₀-Pt/CoPt core-shell catalysts and their synergistic effects in N-doped L1₀-PtNi catalysts are described in detail. The core-shell structure in the Pt-based catalysts have two main effects for enhanced ORR performance: (i) the interaction between Pt shells and core substrates can tune the electronic state of the surface Pt, thus boosting the ORR activity and stability, and (ii) the outer Pt shell with modest thickness can enhance the oxidation and dissolution resistance of the core, resulting in improved durability. We then review the recent attempts to optimize the ORR performance of the Pt-based core-shell catalysts by considering the shape, composition, surface orientation, and shell thickness. The factors influencing the ORR performance can be grouped into two categories: the effect of the core and the effect of the shell. In the former, PtM core-shell catalysts which use different non-PGM element cores (M) are summarized, and in the latter, Pt-based core-shell catalysts with different shell structures and compositions are described. The modifications of the core and/or shell structure can not only optimize the intermediate-binding energetics on the Pt surface through tuning the strain of the surface Pt, which increases the intrinsic activity and stability, but also offer a significantly decreased catalyst cost. Finally, we discuss the membrane electrode assembly performance of Pt-based core-shell catalysts in fuel cell cathodes and evaluate their potential in real PEMFCs for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicle applications. Even though some challenges to the activity and lifetime in the fuel cells remain, the Pt-based core-shell catalysts are expected to be promising for many practical PEMFC applications.

Enhancing Oxygen Reduction Activity of Pt-based Electrocatalysts: From Theoretical Mechanisms to Practical Methods

Pt-based electrocatalysts are considered as one of the most promising choices to facilitate the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and the key factor enabling their success is to reduce the required amount of platinum. Herein, we focus on illuminating both the theoretical mechanisms which enable enhanced and sustained ORR activity and the practical methods to achieve them in catalysts. The various multi-step pathways of ORR are firstly reviewed and the rate-determining steps based on the reaction intermediates and their binding energies are analyzed. We then explain the critical aspects of Pt-based electrocatalysts to tune oxygen reduction properties from the viewpoints of active sites exposure and altering the surface electronic structure, and further summarize representative research progress towards practically achieving these activity enhancements with a focus on platinum size reduction, shape control and core Pt elimination methods. We finally outline the remaining challenges and provide our perspectives with regard to further enhancing their activities.

Bimetallic PtAu electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction: challenges and opportunities

Highly active, durable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts have an essential role in promoting the continuous operation of advanced energy technologies such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Considering the scarce reserve of Pt and its unsatisfactory overall performance, there is an urgent demand for the development of new generation ORR electrocatalysts that are substantially better than the state-of-the-art supported Pt-based nanocatalysts, such as Pt/C. Among various nanostructures, bimetallic PtAu represents one unique alloy system where highly contradictory performance has been reported. While it is generally accepted that Au may contribute to stabilizing Pt, its role in modulating the intrinsic activity of Pt remains unclear. This perspective will discuss critical structural issues that affect the intrinsic ORR activities of bimetallic PtAu, with an eye on elucidating the origin of seemingly inconsistent experimental results from the literature. As a relatively new class of electrodes, we will also highlight the performance of dealloyed nanoporous gold (NPG) based electrocatalysts, which allow a unique combination of structural properties highly desired for this important reaction. Finally, we will put forward the challenges and opportunities for the incorporation of these advanced electrocatalysts into membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) for actual fuel cells.

Microwave-assisted pyrolysis of Pachira aquatica leaves as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction

In this study, biomimetic Mg–N_x–C_y from Pachira aquatica leaves were mixed with carbon black (L/C catalyst), in which the mixture was treated by a conventional microwave oven at 700 W and 2 min, exhibiting high catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). By using a microwave-assisted process, it not only offers a cheaper and faster way to synthesize the catalyst compared to the conventional furnace process but also avoids the decomposition of the N₄-structure. Using the optimized conditions, the L/C catalyst exhibits an electron transfer number of 3.90 and an HO₂⁻ yield of only 5% at 0.25 V vs. RHE, which is close to the perfect four electron-transfer pathway. Besides, the L/C catalyst offers superior performance and long-term stability up to 20 000 s. The L/C catalyst contains a high proportion of quaternary-type nitrogen, Mg–N_x–C_y, and –C–S–C– which can be the active sites for the ORR.

In this study, biomimetic Mg–N_x–C_y from Pachira aquatica leaves were mixed with carbon black, in which the mixture was treated by a conventional microwave oven at 700 W and 2 min, exhibiting high catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction.

Recent advances in electrocatalysts toward the oxygen reduction reaction: the case of PtNi octahedra

Designing highly efficient and durable electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), the key step for the operation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), is of a pivotal importance for advancing PEMFC technology. Since the most significant progress has been made on Pt3Ni(111) alloy surfaces, nanoscale PtNi alloy octahedra enclosed by (111) facets have emerged as promising electrocatalysts toward the ORR. However, because their practical uses have been hampered by the cost, sluggish reaction kinetics, and poor durability, recent advances have engendered a wide variety of structure-, size-, and composition-controlled bimetallic PtNi octahedra. Herein, we therefore review the important recent developments of PtNi octahedral electrocatalysts point by point to give an overview of the most promising strategies. Specifically, the present review article focuses on the synthetic methods for the PtNi octahedra, the core-shell and multi-metallic strategies for performance improvement, and their structure-, size-, and composition-control-based ORR activity. By considering the results achieved in this field, a prospect for this alloy nanocatalysts system for future sustainable energy applications is also proposed.

The Many "Facets" of Halide Ions in the Chemistry of Colloidal Inorganic Nanocrystals

Over the years, scientists have identified various synthetic "handles" while developing wet chemical protocols for achieving a high level of shape and compositional complexity in colloidal nanomaterials. Halide ions have emerged as one such handle which serve as important surface active species that regulate nanocrystal (NC) growth and concomitant physicochemical properties. Halide ions affect the NC growth kinetics through several means, including selective binding on crystal facets, complexation with the precursors, and oxidative etching. On the other hand, their presence on the surfaces of semiconducting NCs stimulates interesting changes in the intrinsic electronic structure and interparticle communication in the NC solids eventually assembled from them. Then again, halide ions also induce optoelectronic tunability in NCs where they form part of the core, through sheer composition variation. In this review, we describe these roles of halide ions in the growth of nanostructures and the physical changes introduced by them and thereafter demonstrate the commonality of these effects across different classes of nanomaterials.

Nanoscale kinetics of asymmetrical corrosion in core-shell nanoparticles

Designing new materials and structure to sustain the corrosion during operation requires better understanding on the corrosion dynamics. Observation on how the corrosion proceeds in atomic scale is thus critical. Here, using a liquid cell, we studied the real-time corrosion process of palladium@platinum (Pd@Pt) core-shell nanocubes via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results revealed that multiple etching pathways operatively contribute to the morphology evolution during corrosion, including galvanic etching on non-defected sites with slow kinetics and halogen-induced etching at defected sites at faster rates. Corners are the preferential corrosion sites; both etching pathways are mutually restricted during corrosion. Those insights on the interaction of nanostructures with reactive liquid environments can help better engineer the surface structure to improve the stability of electrocatalysts as well as design a new porous structure that may provide more active sites for catalysis.

Nanoscale mechanism of the stabilization of nanoporous gold by alloyed platinum

Nanoporous gold (NPG) is usually made by electrochemical dealloying of Ag from binary AgAu alloys. The resulting nanoscale ligaments are not very stable, and tend to coarsen with time by surface self-diffusion, especially in electrolyte, which may lead to inferior electrocatalytic properties. Addition of a small amount of Pt to the precursor alloy is known to refine and stabilize the nanoporous product (NPG-Pt). However, the mechanisms by which Pt serves to refine the microstructure remain poorly understood. The present study aims to expand our knowledge of the role of Pt by examining NPG-Pt at atomic resolution with Atom Probe Tomography (APT), as well as by aberration-corrected Transmission Electron Microscopy. Atomic level observation of Pt enrichment on ligament surfaces sheds light on the underlying mechanisms that give rise to Pt's refining effect. Owing to improved Ag retention with higher Pt content, NPG-Pt₁ (made by dealloying Ag₇₇Au₂₂Pt₁) was shown to have the highest surface area-to-volume ratio, compared to NPG-Pt₃ (made by dealloying Ag₇₇Au₂₀Pt₃). Quantitative estimates reveal up to 5-fold enrichment of Pt at nanoligament surfaces, compared to the precursor content, in NPG-Pt. The interface between the dealloyed layer and the substrate was captured by APT, for the first time. The findings of this investigation add insight into the functionality of NPG-Pt and its prospective catalytic performance.

Green, Seed-Mediated Synthesis of Au Nanowires and Their Efficient Electrocatalytic Activity in Oxygen Reduction Reaction

A new, simple, green method for the synthesis of Au nanowires (average diameter 8 nm and several micrometers in length) using Au seeds prepared from bael gum (BG) is reported. The nanowires are characterized using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution-TEM. It is observed that the rate of the reduction process might be the decisive factor for the shape selectivity, as evident from the formation of nanowires at a particular concentration of seeds and NaOH. The polysaccharide present in BG is the active ingredient for the synthesis of Au nanowires, while the small molecules present in BG, when used alone, did not result in nanowire formation. The TEM images of the precursor to the Au nanowires suggested that new, nucleated particles align in a linear manner and fuse with one another, resulting in the nanowire. The linear fusion of the newly nucleated particles could be due to the lack of adequate protecting agent and the presence of Au complex adsorbed to the surface. The electrochemical activity of the nanowires for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is assessed and compared with that of nanotriangles and spherical nanoparticles of Au. The performance of Au nanowire is better than Au-nanomaterials (heat-treated as well as non-heat-treated), Au seeds, and clusters. The better efficiency of the nanowires when compared to that of the other reported catalysts is attributed to the presence of active (100) facets with numerous corners, edges, and surface defects.

Unusual enhancement in the electroreduction of oxygen by NiCoPt by surface tunability through potential cycling

Surface tunability during potential cycling gives unusual enhancement in ORR by NiCoPt.

Highly Porous Carbon Derived from MOF-5 as a Support of ORR Electrocatalysts for Fuel Cells

The development of highly competent electrocatalysts for the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at cathodes of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is extremely important for their long-term operation and wide applications. Herein, we present highly efficient ORR electrocatalysts based on Pt/Ni bimetallic nanoparticles dispersed on highly porous carbon obtained via pyrolysis of a metal-organic framework MOF-5. In comparison to the commercial Pt/C (20%), the electrocatalyst Pt-Ni/PC 950 (15:15%) in this study exhibits a pronounced positive shift of 90 mV in Eonset. In addition, it also demonstrates excellent long-term stability and durability during the 500-cycle continue-oxygen-supply (COS) accelerating durability tests (ADTs). The significantly improved activity and stability of Pt-Ni/PC 950 (15:15%) can be attributed to the Pt electron interaction with Ni and carbon support as has been proved in X-ray and microscopic analysis.

The reactivity of stoichiometric tungsten oxide clusters towards carbon monoxide: the effects of cluster sizes and charge states

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are employed to investigate the reactivity of tungsten oxide clusters towards carbon monoxide. Extensive structural searches show that all the ground-state structures of (WO3)n(+) (n = 1-4) contain an oxygen radical center with a lengthened W-O bond which is highly active in the oxidation of carbon monoxide. Energy profiles are calculated to determine the reaction mechanisms and evaluate the effect of cluster sizes. The monomer WO3(+) has the highest reactivity among the stoichiometric clusters of different sizes (WO3)n(+) (n = 1-4). The reaction mechanisms for CO with mono-nuclear stoichiometric tungsten oxide clusters with different charges (WO3(-/0/+)) are also studied to clarify the influence of charge states. Our calculated results show that the ability to oxidize CO gets weaker from WO3(+) to WO3(-) as the negative charge accumulates progressively.

Gold-promoted structurally ordered intermetallic palladium cobalt nanoparticles for the oxygen reduction reaction

Considerable efforts to make palladium and palladium alloys active catalysts and a possible replacement for platinum have had a marginal success. Here we report on a structurally ordered Au10Pd₄₀Co₅₀ catalyst that exhibits comparable activity to conventional platinum catalysts in both acid and alkaline media. Electron microscopic techniques demonstrate that, at elevated temperatures, palladium cobalt nanoparticles undergo an atomic structural transition from core-shell to a rare intermetallic ordered structure with twin boundaries forming stable {111}, {110} and {100} facets via addition of gold atoms. The superior stability of this catalyst compared with platinum after 10,000 potential cycles in alkaline media is attributed to the atomic structural order of PdCo nanoparticles along with protective effect of clusters of gold atoms on the surface. This strategy of making ordered palladium intermetallic alloy nanoparticles can be used in diverse heterogeneous catalysis where particle size and structural stability matter.

Controlling the size and composition of nanosized Pt-Ni octahedra to optimize their catalytic activities toward the oxygen reduction reaction

Electrocatalysts based on Pt-Ni alloys have received considerable interest in recent years owing to their remarkable activities toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here, we report the synthesis of nanosized Pt-Ni octahedra with a range of controlled sizes and compositions in an effort to optimize their ORR activities. If we employed benzyl ether as a solvent for the synthesis, we could readily control the edge lengths of the Pt-Ni octahedra in the range of 6-12 nm and keep the Pt/Ni atomic ratio at around 2.4 by varying the amount of oleylamine added into the reaction system. If we adjusted the amount of Ni precursor, the atomic ratio of Pt to Ni in the Pt-Ni octahedra could be controlled in the range of 1.4-3.7 and their edge lengths were kept at 9 nm. For the catalysts with a Pt/Ni atomic ratio around 2.4, their specific ORR activities (per unit surface area) increased monotonically as the edge length increased from 6 to 12 nm. However, the mass activities (per unit mass of Pt) of these Pt-Ni octahedra showed a maximum value at an edge length of 9 nm. The specific and mass activities for the Pt-Ni octahedra with an edge length of 9 nm but different compositions both showed peak values at a Pt/Ni atomic ratio of 2.4.

Mechanisms for enhanced performance of platinum-based electrocatalysts in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

As a new generation of power sources, fuel cells have shown great promise for application in transportation. However, the expensive catalyst materials, especially the cathode catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), severely limit the widespread commercialization of fuel cells. Therefore, this review article focuses on platinum (Pt)-based electrocatalysts for ORR with better catalytic performance and lower cost. Major breakthroughs in the improvement of activity and durability of electrocatalysts are discussed. Specifically, on one hand, the enhanced activity of Pt has been achieved through crystallographic control, ligand effect, or geometric effect; on the other hand, improved durability of Pt-based cathode catalysts has been realized by means of the incorporation of another noble metal or the morphological control of nanostructures. Furthermore, based on these improvement mechanisms, rationally designed Pt-based nanoparticles are summarized in terms of different synthetic strategies such as wet-chemical synthesis, Pt-skin catalysts, electrochemically dealloyed nanomaterials, and Pt-monolayer deposition. These nanoparticulate electrocatalysts show greatly enhanced catalytic performance towards ORR, aiming not only to outperform the commercial Pt/C, but also to exceed the US Department of Energy 2015 technical target ($30/kW and 5000 h).

Enhancing the catalytic and electrocatalytic properties of Pt-based catalysts by forming bimetallic nanocrystals with Pd

Bimetallic nanocrystals consisting of two distinct metals such as Pd and Pt are attractive for a wide variety of catalytic and electrocatalytic applications as they can exhibit not only a combination of the properties associated with both metals but also enhancement or synergy due to a strong coupling between the two metals. With Pd as the base metal, many methods have recently been demonstrated for the synthesis of Pd-Pt bimetallic nanocrystals having a wide variety of different structures in the form of alloys, dendrites, core-shells, multi-shells, and monolayers. In this tutorial review, we begin with a brief discussion on the possible structures of Pd-Pt bimetallic nanocrystals, followed by an account of recent progress on synthetic approaches to such nanocrystals with controlled structures, shapes and sizes. In addition to the experimental procedures and mechanistic studies, a number of examples are presented to highlight the use of such bimetallic nanocrystals as catalysts or electrocatalysts for various applications with enhanced performance relative to their monometallic counterparts.

Platinum Monolayer Electrocatalysts for Anodic Oxidation of Alcohols

The slow, incomplete oxidation of methanol and ethanol on platinum-based anodes as well as the high price and limited reserves of Pt has hampered the practical application of direct alcohol fuel cells. We describe the electrocatalysts consisting of one Pt monolayer (one atom thick layer) placed on extended or nanoparticle surfaces having the activity and selectivity for the oxidation of alcohol molecules that can be controlled with platinum-support interaction. The suitably expanded Pt monolayer (i.e., Pt/Au(111)) exhibits a factor of 7 activity increase in catalyzing methanol electrooxidation relative to Pt(111). Sizable enhancement is also observed for ethanol electrooxidation. Furthermore, a correlation between substrate-induced lateral strain in a Pt monolayer and its activity/selectivity is established and rationalized by experimental and theoretical studies. The knowledge we gained with single-crystal model catalysts was successfully applied in designing real nanocatalysts. These findings for alcohols are likely to be applicable for the oxidation of other classes of organic molecules.

Core-shell compositional fine structures of dealloyed Pt(x)Ni(1-x) nanoparticles and their impact on oxygen reduction catalysis

Using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy line profiles with Ångstrom resolution, we uncover novel core-shell fine structures in a series of catalytically active dealloyed Pt(x)Ni(1-x) core-shell nanoparticles, showing the formation of unusual near-surface Ni-enriched inner shells. The radial location and the composition of the Ni-enriched inner shells were sensitively dependent on the initial alloy compositions. We further discuss how these self-organized Ni-enriched inner shells play a key role in maintaining surface lattice strain and thus control the surface catalytic activity for oxygen reduction.

Structure/processing/properties relationships in nanoporous nanoparticles as applied to catalysis of the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction

We present a comprehensive experimental study of the formation and activity of dealloyed nanoporous Ni/Pt alloy nanoparticles for the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction. By addressing the kinetics of nucleation during solvothermal synthesis we developed a method to control the size and composition of Ni/Pt alloy nanoparticles over a broad range while maintaining an adequate size distribution. Electrochemical dealloying of these size-controlled nanoparticles was used to explore conditions in which hierarchical nanoporosity within nanoparticles can evolve. Our results show that in order to evolve fully formed porosity, particles must have a minimum diameter of ∼15 nm, a result consistent with the surface kinetic processes occurring during dealloying. Nanoporous nanoparticles possess ligaments and voids with diameters of approximately 2 nm, high surface area/mass ratios usually associated with much smaller particles, and a composition consistent with a Pt-skeleton covering a Ni/Pt alloy core. Electrochemical measurements show that the mass activity for the oxygen reduction reaction using carbon-supported nanoporous Ni/Pt nanoparticles is nearly four times that of commercial Pt/C catalyst and even exceeds that of comparable nonporous Pt-skeleton Ni/Pt alloy nanoparticles.

Platinum Monolayer Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction: Improvements Induced by Surface and Subsurface Modifications of Cores

This paper demonstrates that the ORR activity of PtML electrocatalysts can be further improved by the modification of surface and subsurface of the core materials. The removal of surface low-coordination sites, generation (via addition or segregation) of an interlayer between PtML and the core, or the introduction of a second metal component to the subsurface layer of the core can further improve the ORR activity and/or stability of PtML electrocatalysts. These modifications generate the alternation of the interactions between the substrate and the PtML, involving the changes on both electronic (ligand) and geometric (strain) properties of the substrates. The improvements resulted from the application of these approaches provide a new perspective to designing of the new generation PtML electrocatalysts.