Efficient Synthesis of Bimetallic Pt3Zn Alloy Nanocrystals with Different Shapes and their Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity. Issue 24 (3rd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Xinran; Ossufo, Iahaia Gomes Ali; Ye, Huanyu; Huang, Yunxia; Ge, Shuaipeng; Xiang, Zhongcheng; Cui, Yimin; Wang, Rongming
• Is Part Of: ChemCatChem. Volume 11:Issue 24(2019)
• Page Start: 6031
• Page End: 6038
• Publication Date: 2019-07-03
• Subjects: Pt3Zn nanocrystals -- electrocatalytic activity -- methanol oxidation -- fuel cells -- CO stripping; Catalysis -- Periodicals; 541.39505
• DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201900649
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1867-3880

Abstract

Abstract: Highly uniform dispersed bimetallic Pt3 Zn alloy nanocrystals (NCs) with unique geometries are obtained via a facile one‐pot synthesis process by regulating different reductants. To investigate the morphology and composition of the prepared catalysts, the transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy are utilized. Electrochemical measurements reveal that the Pt3 Zn NCs significantly exhibited larger electrochemically active surface areas and excellent catalytic activity towards electro‐oxidation of methanol and ethanol in comparison to the commercial Pt/C. The optimized Pt3 Zn (AA) NCs exhibit excellent mass activities in both methanol oxidation reaction (1251.4 mA mgPt −1 ) and ethanol oxidation reaction (975.7 mA mgPt −1 ) in acidic media, which are respectively 4.28 times and 3.02 times higher than those of commercial Pt/C. Moreover, the Pt3 Zn NCs show a higher stability and better resistance to the COads poisoning. The activity enhancements are attributed to electronic effects and a bifunctional mechanism. Abstract : Staying tolerant : Highly uniform bimetallic Pt3 Zn alloy nanocrystals were facilely fabricated with unique geometries and well‐defined structure features with ascorbic acid (AA), glucose (Glc) and sodium citrate (SC) as the weaker reductants and structure directing agents, which exhibited superior electrocatalytic activity for methanol and ethanol oxidation reaction. In addition, the CO stripping measurement indicated that the tolerance to CO poisoning has been significantly improved by alloying PtZn.