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On the Preparation and Testing of Fuel Cell Catalysts Using the Thin Film Rotating Disk Electrode Method
Published on: March 16, 2018
Highly active Pt3Pb and core-shell Pt3Pb-Pt electrocatalysts for formic acid oxidation
Yijin Kang1, Liang Qi, Meng Li
1Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
ACS Nano
|March 6, 2012
Summary
Platinum-lead nanocrystals show high efficiency for direct formic acid fuel cells. This breakthrough addresses catalyst poisoning and low activity, paving the way for practical fuel cell applications.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs) are promising energy conversion devices.
- Existing electrocatalysts suffer from low activity and poisoning, hindering DFAFC performance.
- CO poisoning and high activation energy impede formic acid oxidation at desired voltages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and evaluate novel platinum-lead (Pt3Pb) nanocrystals as electrocatalysts for formic acid oxidation.
- To investigate the effect of core-shell structures on electrocatalytic activity.
- To understand the mechanisms behind the enhanced performance.
Main Methods:
- Solution phase synthesis of Pt3Pb nanocrystals.
- Fabrication of Pt3Pb-Pt core-shell structures.
- Electrochemical characterization of formic acid oxidation.
- Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations for mechanistic insights.
Main Results:
- Pt3Pb nanocrystals exhibit high electrocatalytic activity for formic acid oxidation.
- Pt3Pb-Pt core-shell structures demonstrate further improved performance.
- Experimental and theoretical studies indicate reduced CO poisoning and lower dehydrogenation barriers.
- The novel catalysts enable efficient formic acid oxidation at desirable operating voltages.
Conclusions:
- Pt3Pb and Pt3Pb-Pt core-shell nanocrystals are highly efficient electrocatalysts for formic acid oxidation.
- These catalysts overcome key limitations of existing materials, such as CO poisoning.
- The developed nanocrystals can significantly enhance the performance of direct formic acid fuel cells, enabling practical applications.
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