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Updated: Jan 3, 2026
Synthesis of Platinum-nickel Nanowires and Optimization for Oxygen Reduction Performance
Published on: April 27, 2018
Interfacial Engineering in PtNiCo/NiCoS Nanowires for Enhanced Electrocatalysis and Electroanalysis
Yingjun Sun1,2, Yingjie Li2, Yingnan Qin1,2
1Key Laboratory of Eco-Chemical Engineering, Taishan Scholar Advantage and Characteristic Discipline Team of Eco Chemical Process and Technology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China.
Researchers developed novel PtNiCo/NiCoS interface nanowires for direct alcohol fuel cells. These catalysts exhibit enhanced alcohol oxidation activity and superior resistance to carbon monoxide poisoning, improving fuel cell performance.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
Background:
- Direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) require efficient and durable catalysts for alcohol oxidation.
- Traditional bimetallic/multimetallic catalysts often have limited activity due to reliance on surface atoms.
- Developing anti-poisoning catalysts is crucial for sustained DAFC operation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and fabricate a novel multicomponent catalyst with enhanced activity and anti-poisoning properties for DAFCs.
- To investigate the role of sulfide interfaces in improving catalytic performance.
- To evaluate the catalyst's efficacy in methanol and ethanol oxidation reactions.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of 1D PtNiCo trimetallic nanowires (NWs) with a sulfide structure (PtNiCo/NiCoS interface NWs - IFNWs).
- Electrochemical testing, including methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) activity measurements.
- CO-stripping and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to analyze surface intermediates and catalyst structure.
Main Results:
- The PtNiCo/NiCoS IFNWs demonstrated significantly higher MOR and EOR mass activities compared to PtNiCo NWs and commercial Pt/C.
- The catalysts exhibited excellent tolerance to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
- The unique interfacial structure facilitated the removal of adsorbed carbonaceous intermediates.
- The material also showed improved performance in electrochemical detection of H2O2 and NH2NH2.
Conclusions:
- The developed PtNiCo/NiCoS IFNWs represent a promising catalyst for DAFCs, offering enhanced activity and durability.
- The sulfide interface plays a critical role in improving catalytic performance and anti-CO poisoning.
- This work provides a new strategy for designing advanced electrocatalysts for energy applications and electrochemical sensing.
