A unique approach to designing resilient bi-functional nano-electrocatalysts based on ultrafine bimetallic nanoparticles dispersed in carbon nanospheres

Nandan, Ravi and Nanda, KK (2017) A unique approach to designing resilient bi-functional nano-electrocatalysts based on ultrafine bimetallic nanoparticles dispersed in carbon nanospheres. In: Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 5 (21). pp. 10544-10553. ISSN 2050-7488

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Abstract

Activity and stability are the key issues for any catalyst. Importantly, the synthesis of catalysts should be facile. Here, we report one-step facile electroless synthesis of ultrafine bimetallic PdPt nanoparticles (∼2 nm) dispersed in hetero-atom doped hollow carbon nanospheres (HCNSs) and PdPt nanoparticles in carbon nanostructures (CNSs) as highly active and stable electrocatalysts for electro-oxidation/-reduction of low molecular weight alcohols such as methanol and ethanol/of oxygen. HCNSs inhibit some of the electrochemical degradation pathways such as migration, agglomeration, isolation and detachment of nanoparticles. The superior mass activity of ultrafine PdPt nanoparticles for methanol/ethanol electro-oxidation (12-/8-fold), excellent operational stability, and high Jf/Jb ratio over commercially available state-of-the-art Pt-C (20 wt%) make them a potential fuel cell anode catalyst. The activity is further improved when PdPt-HCNS and PdPt-CNS are taken together suggesting a synergistic effect. Further, oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) study with embedded nanostructures exhibits a positive ORR peak potential, positive on-set potential (ΔEon-set ∼ -50 mV) & half-wave potential (ΔE1/2 ∼ -25 mV), low Tafel slope (53 mV dec-1), enhanced current density and superior stability compared to that of Pt-C along with preferential 4e- ORR pathways. Overall, the catalyst reported here is a potential anode and cathode catalyst for direct alcohol alkaline as well as hydrogen fuel cells.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Publisher:	Royal Society of Chemistry
Additional Information:	The Copyright of this article belongs to the Royal Society of Chemistry
Keywords:	Alkaline fuel cells; Anodes; Binary alloys; Catalyst activity; Catalysts; Direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFC); Electrocatalysts; Electrodes; Electrolytic reduction; Electrooxidation; Fuel cells; Molecular oxygen; Nanoparticles; Nanostructures; Palladium alloys; Platinum; Platinum alloys; Reduction; Slope stability; Synthesis (chemical); Bimetallic nanoparticles; Carbon Nanostructures; Electrochemical degradation; Electroless synthesis; Hollow carbon nanospheres; Low molecular weight alcohols; Operational stability; Oxygen reduction reaction; Nanospheres
Department/Centre:	Division of Chemical Sciences > Materials Research Centre
Date Deposited:	01 Jun 2022 05:39
Last Modified:	01 Jun 2022 05:39
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/72988

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