Solvent assistance induced surface N-modification of PtCu aerogels and their enhanced electrocatalytic properties

Abstract

A facile method involving the nitrogen modification of PtCu aerogel surfaces with N-methyl pyrrolidone as the sole nitrogen source is reported. The half wave potential (E_1/2) of the PtCu aerogels was 0.932 V and the electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) was 102.04 m² g⁻¹ for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and the mass activity (MA) for the methanol electrooxidation reaction (MOR) was measured to be 4.08 A mg⁻¹, values better than those of a commercial Pt/C catalyst and other reported Pt-based catalysts.