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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
09:02
Synthesis of Platinum-nickel Nanowires and Optimization for Oxygen Reduction Performance
Published on: April 27, 2018
Mixed-metal pt monolayer electrocatalysts for enhanced oxygen reduction kinetics
Junliang Zhang1, Miomir B Vukmirovic, Kotaro Sasaki
1Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|September 8, 2005
Summary
New electrocatalysts featuring platinum (Pt) mixed with other transition metals significantly boost oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance and durability for fuel cells. This breakthrough lowers costs and enhances efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Surface Science
Background:
- Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is critical for fuel cell technology.
- Current platinum (Pt)-based catalysts face challenges in cost and durability.
- Developing efficient and stable ORR electrocatalysts is a key research area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel mixed-metal monolayer electrocatalysts for ORR.
- To investigate the enhanced activity and stability of these new catalysts.
- To elucidate the fundamental mechanisms behind their improved performance.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of mixed monolayers of Pt with Ir, Ru, Rh, Re, or Os on Pd substrates.
- Electrochemical techniques to evaluate catalytic activity and stability.
- In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations for mechanistic studies.
Main Results:
- Several mixed monolayer electrocatalysts demonstrated significantly higher ORR activity and Pt stability.
- A 20-fold increase in Pt mass-specific activity was observed compared to all-Pt catalysts.
- Low OH coverage on Pt, attributed to lateral repulsion effects, was identified as the key factor for enhanced performance.
Conclusions:
- This new class of Pt-based mixed monolayer electrocatalysts offers a promising solution for cost-effective and high-performance fuel cells.
- Surface modification and control of Pt-based mixed monolayers on transition metals can lead to improved ORR catalysts.
- Co-deposition of oxophilic metals presents a viable strategy for enhancing various catalytic applications.
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