Issue 23, 2021

Modulating the multiple intrinsic properties of platinum–iron alloy nanowires towards enhancing collaborative electrocatalysis

Abstract

The electrocatalytic properties of an alloy can be effectively controlled by adjusting their inherent physical and chemical performance (compositions, lattice strain, facets, etc.) to provide a better surface structure and compositions for efficient electrocatalytic reactions in the cathode and anode of fuel cells. However, it is still a challenge to adjust simultaneously the multiple inherent properties of alloy catalysts to form synergies. Herein, a simple surfactant-free synthetic route was used to develop PtnFe100−n alloy nanowires (NWs) with tunable compositions, lattice strain, enriched-(111) facets and nanoarchitectures with highly exposed active sites. Several characterization results showed that the inherent properties of PtnFe100−n NWs could be manipulated by tuning alloy compositions. The electrochemical results showed that the excellent catalytic performance of PtnFe100−n NWs for the oxygen reduction and alcohol oxidation reactions was in relation to the facets, lattice strain and bimetallic compositions. Interestingly, Pt77Fe23/C NWs with lattice shrinking showed the best activity and stability compared with different compositions and commercial Pt/C catalysts, which was also supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The combination of lattice strain modulation and structural engineering could decrease the adsorption of toxic material and enhance the catalytic performance. This study will provide a new path for the design of robust and active nanoalloy catalysts with multi-performance collaboration for efficient electrocatalytic reactions in the cathode and anode of fuel cells.

Graphical abstract: Modulating the multiple intrinsic properties of platinum–iron alloy nanowires towards enhancing collaborative electrocatalysis

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
11 août 2021
Accepted
30 sept. 2021
First published
01 oct. 2021

Mater. Chem. Front., 2021,5, 8118-8126

Modulating the multiple intrinsic properties of platinum–iron alloy nanowires towards enhancing collaborative electrocatalysis

F. Chang, J. Wei, Q. Zhang, Z. Jia, Y. Liu, L. Yang, X. Wang and Z. Bai, Mater. Chem. Front., 2021, 5, 8118 DOI: 10.1039/D1QM01136G

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