Synthesis of PtCu3 bimetallic nanoparticles as oxygen reduction catalysts via a sonochemical method

Cenk Gümeci; D. Ua Cearnaigh; Dominick J. Casadonte; Carol Korzeniewski

doi:10.1039/C2TA00957A

Synthesis of PtCu₃ bimetallic nanoparticles as oxygen reduction catalysts via a sonochemical method

Cenk Gümeci,^a D. Ua Cearnaigh,^a Dominick J. Casadonte, Jr.^a and Carol Korzeniewski*^a

* Corresponding authors

^a Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA
E-mail: carol.korzeniewski@ttu.edu
Fax: +1 806 742 1289
Tel: +1 806 742 3067

Abstract

We report a sonochemical synthesis of homogeneous PtCu₃ nanoparticles. Ultra-sonication during reduction in a non-aqueous solution is compared with synthesis under identical conditions in the absence of sonication (to form a Rieke alloy). X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements suggest that the sonochemical procedure produces an amorphous, uniformly alloyed nanomaterial having a composition consistent with the PtCu₃ stoichiometry, while the Rieke alloy is polyphasic. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis indicates that the composition of the sonochemically prepared PtCu₃ material reflects the nominal values. EDX and XRD analyses also provide evidence for the inhibition of oxide formation on sonochemically prepared PtCu₃ nanoparticles, but oxide is readily apparent in the Rieke alloy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the sonochemically prepared sample show particles with diameters of ∼2 to 3 nm. As-synthesized PtCu₃ particles were activated using an electrochemical de-alloying procedure to prepare an oxygen reduction electrocatalyst. The de-alloyed catalyst consisted of a Pt-rich surface layer, over a core indicated as having a Pt₃Cu composition. The de-alloyed sample exhibited ∼3 to 6 fold enhancements in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity when compared to commercial Pt catalysts.

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The article was received on 02 Nov 2012, accepted on 29 Nov 2012 and first published on 29 Nov 2012

Article type: Paper

DOI: 10.1039/C2TA00957A

Citation: J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013,1, 2322-2330

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Synthesis of PtCu₃ bimetallic nanoparticles as oxygen reduction catalysts via a sonochemical method

C. Gümeci, D. U. Cearnaigh, D. J. Casadonte and C. Korzeniewski, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013, 1, 2322
DOI: 10.1039/C2TA00957A
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Journal of Materials Chemistry A

Synthesis of PtCu₃ bimetallic nanoparticles as oxygen reduction catalysts via a sonochemical method

Abstract

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Synthesis of PtCu₃ bimetallic nanoparticles as oxygen reduction catalysts via a sonochemical method

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