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Preparation and structural analysis of carbon-supported Co core/Pt shell electrocatalysts using electroless
K D Beard1, David Borrelli, Alison M Cramer
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Swearingen Engineering Center, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA.
ACS Nano
|August 8, 2009
Summary
Platinum-cobalt core/shell nanoparticles were synthesized for oxygen reduction reactions. Smaller cobalt cores resulted in continuous platinum shells, enhancing catalytic activity compared to commercial platinum catalysts.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Developing efficient electrocatalysts is crucial for energy conversion technologies.
- Cobalt-platinum (Pt-Co) core/shell nanoparticles offer tunable properties for catalysis.
- Electroless deposition (ED) is a method for creating bimetallic nanostructures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prepare and characterize cobalt core/platinum shell nanoparticles using ED.
- To investigate the effect of Pt loading and Co particle size on Pt shell morphology.
- To evaluate the electrochemical activity and corrosion resistance of the synthesized Pt-Co/C catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).
Main Methods:
- Electroless deposition (ED) of Pt onto carbon-supported Co (Co/C).
- High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) for morphology analysis.
- Temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) for Pt monolayer coverage determination.
- Electrochemical measurements (ORR activity) and corrosion tests in sulfuric acid.
- Chemisorption techniques for surface area determination.
Main Results:
- Pt-Co/C catalysts were successfully synthesized with controlled Pt loading.
- Single Pt monolayer coverage was achieved at specific Pt weight loadings (0.5–0.7% on 2.0% Co/C).
- Pt shell continuity depended on Co core size: small Co (<6 nm) favored layer-by-layer growth, large Co (>10 nm) resulted in noncontinuous shells.
- Cobalt corrosion was observed in acidic media for larger core-shell particles.
- Pt-Co/C catalysts showed higher surface area specific ORR activity than commercial Pt/C.
- Lower Pt:Co atomic ratio Pt-Co/C catalysts outperformed Pt/C on a Pt mass basis.
Conclusions:
- Electroless deposition allows tunable Pt shell formation on Co/C catalysts.
- Nanoparticle morphology and composition significantly influence ORR activity and stability.
- Optimized Pt-Co/C catalysts, particularly those with lower Pt:Co ratios, show promise as efficient electrocatalysts for ORR.
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