Solid state preparation of carbon-supported Pt2Ca nanoparticles for the oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

Pt₂Ca nanoparticles with a mean size diameter of 6 nm can be prepared by heating K₂PtCl₆, CaH₂, carbon black and KCl at 400–500 °C. A mechanism study suggests that the formation of the Pt₂Ca phase at moderate temperature is enabled by the fast ion transport via the vacancies in the KCl–CaH₂ solid solution. The Pt₂Ca nanoparticles exhibit high performance for the oxygen reduction reaction in acid due to optimal adsorption energy of the oxygen intermediate.