Golden single-atomic-site platinum electrocatalysts. Issue 11 (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duchesne, Paul; Li, Z.; Deming, Christopher; Fung, Victor; Zhao, Xiaojing; Yuan, Jun; Regier, Tom; Aldalbahi, Ali; Almarhoon, Zainab; Chen, Shaowei; Jiang, De-en; Zheng, Nanfeng; Zhang, Peng
• Is Part Of: Nature materials. Volume 17:Issue 11(2018)
• Page Start: 1033
• Page End: 1039
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Materials science -- Periodicals; Materials -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Materials -- Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1038/s41563-018-0167-5
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1476-1122

Abstract

Abstract Bimetallic nanoparticles with tailored structures constitute a desirable model system for catalysts, as crucial factors such as geometric and electronic effects can be readily controlled by tailoring the structure and alloy bonding of the catalytic site. Here we report a facile colloidal method to prepare a series of platinum–gold (PtAu) nanoparticles with tailored surface structures and particle diameters on the order of 7 nm. Samples with low Pt content, particularly Pt4 Au96, exhibited unprecedented electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of formic acid. A high forward current density of 3.77 A mgPt −1 was observed for Pt4 Au96, a value two orders of magnitude greater than those observed for core–shell structured Pt78 Au22 and a commercial Pt nanocatalyst. Extensive structural characterization and theoretical density functional theory simulations of the best-performing catalysts revealed densely packed single-atom Pt surface sites surrounded by Au atoms, which suggests that their superior catalytic activity and selectivity could be attributed to the unique structural and alloy-bonding properties of these single-atomic-site catalysts. Bimetallic nanoparticles with tailored structure constitute a desirable model system for catalysts. PtAu nanoparticles with Pt single-atom surface sites, prepared by a colloidal method, exhibit unprecedented electrocatalytic activity for formic acid oxidation.