Coupling Ultrafine Pt Nanocrystals over the Fe₂P Surface as a Robust Catalyst for Alcohol Fuel Electro-Oxidation

Ultrafine Pt nanocrystals with an average particle size of 2.2 ± 1 nm coupled over the petaloid Fe₂P surface are proposed as a novel, efficient, and robust catalyst for alcohol fuel electro-oxidation. The strong coupling effect of metal-support imparts a strong electronic interaction between the Fe₂P and Pt interface that can weaken the adsorption of poisoning CO species according to the d-band theory. Defects and increased surface area of the petaloid Fe₂P are beneficial to the Pt nanoparticle anchoring and dispersion as well as the charge transfer and reactant transportation during the electrochemical reaction. These features make the Pt-Fe₂P catalyst system exhibit excellent catalytic activity, antipoisoning ability, and catalytic stability for alcohol fuel of methanol and ethanol electro-oxidation compared with a controlled Pt/C catalyst. The high catalytic efficiency is proposed to come from the strong coupling effect of Pt and petaloid Fe₂P interface that can maintain the mechanical and chemical stability of the catalyst system. This kind of phosphide-supported ultrafine Pt nanocrystals will be a promising catalyst in fuel cells.