Ultra-thin PtFe-nanowires as durable electrocatalysts for fuel cells

Ultra-thin Pt(x)Fe(y)-nanowires (Pt(x)Fe(y)-NWs) with a diameter of 2-3 nm were successfully prepared through a solution-phase reduction method at Pt-Fe compositions from 1:1 to 2:1. The carbon supported Pt(x)Fe(y)-NWs (Pt(x)Fe(y)-NWs/C) demonstrated higher oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and better electrochemical durability than conventional Pt/C catalyst. After 1000 cycles of 0-1.3 V (versus RHE), the relative electrochemical surface area (ECSA) of Pt(2)Fe(1)-NW/C dropped down to 46%, which was two times better than Pt/C catalyst, and the mass activity at 0.85 V (versus RHE) for Pt(1)Fe(1)-NW/C was 39.9 mA mg(-1)-(Pt), which is twice that for Pt/C (18.6 mA mg(-1)-(Pt)).