Gadolinium-assisted synthesis of Pt/C electrocatalysts: WAXTS–DSE insights into active area and ORR activity

Abstract

This paper reports on the template-assisted synthesis of Pt-based catalysts featuring a porous structure. The influence of various gadolinium precursors on the synthesis of Pt–Gd oxide catalysts is systematically investigated, with the objective of optimizing their crystalline structure and correlating it with their performance in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Transmission electron microscopy analyses reveal complex morphological features, while synchrotron radiation experiments, combined with an innovative and robust approach based on the Debye Scattering Equation (DSE), enable a more accurate correlation between the electrochemical performance and the actual morphology of the catalysts. Although this work does not claim the development of a breakthrough catalyst, the observed ORR activity is comparable to that of commercial benchmarks (e.g., TKK). More importantly, it underscores the value of DSE-based XRD analysis as a statistically rigorous and complementary technique for nanoparticle morphology characterization, offering significant advantages over conventional TEM in this context.