Composition effect of oxygen reduction reaction on PtSn nanorods: An experimental and computational study

Shao Yan Yan, Chen Wei Liu, Tzu Hsi Huang, Yao Zhang Guo, Sheng Wei Lee, Jeng Han Wang, Kuan Wen Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the development of emerging energy, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been widely researched. Nevertheless, because of the high price and scarcity of Pt and its sluggish kinetics for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), the preparation of highly effective cathode catalysts becomes one of the main challenges for PEMFCs in the practical application. In this study, carbon supported PtSn nanorods (NRs) with metal loading of 50 wt % and different Pt/Sn ratios of 80/20, 65/35 and 50/50 have been prepared by formic acid reduction method. The ORR performance of the catalysts can be promoted synergistically by one-dimensional (1-D) NRs and is varied with the Pt/Sn ratios. The experimental and computational efforts reveal that the Sn addition can lower the unoccupied d-band of neighboring Pt and the oxygen-containing species (OCS) on Sn can suppress their oxidation through the repulsion effect. Consequently, PtSn electrodes show the improved ORR activity; Pt50Sn50 with the highest Sn content results in the highest mass activity. On the other hand, the negatively charged OCS on Sn attracts the positively charged Pt and destructs the structures of PtSn NRs. Accordingly, Pt80Sn20 with the lowest Sn contain has the highest concentration of 1-D PtSn NRs and shows the best stability in the accelerated durability test (ADT). Our results clarify the mechanism of ORR on PtSn electrodes and suggest the importance of the precise control of atomic ratios on PtSn catalysts for the practical purpose. The findings open new perspectives about the origins of the activity and stability of the PtSn catalysts, especially for 1-D catalysts.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)14427-14438
Number of pages12
JournalInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume43
Issue number31
DOIs
StatePublished - 2 Aug 2018

Keywords

  • Number of unoccupied d-states (H)
  • One-dimensional (1-D) structure
  • Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)
  • Pt/Sn ratio
  • Repulsion effect

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Composition effect of oxygen reduction reaction on PtSn nanorods: An experimental and computational study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this