Maximizing metal utilization by coupling cross-linked PtRu multi-atom on an atomically dispersed ZnFeNC support

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Minimizing noble-metal (NM) usage is crucial for developing efficient catalysts.
• Exposing all metal atoms on catalyst surfaces maximizes atom utilization.
• Developing highly active and stable catalysts for reactions like methanol oxidation remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To achieve full utilization of platinum (Pt) and ruthenium (Ru) atoms in a bimetallic catalyst.
• To develop a highly efficient, stable, and active catalyst for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR).
• To investigate the role of metal-nitrogen bonds in stabilizing multi-atom catalysts.

Main Methods:

• Anchoring cross-linked PtRu multi-atoms onto Zn, Fe, and N tri-doped carbon nanomaterials.
• Utilizing Pt-N and Ru-N bonds to secure the multi-atom clusters.
• Employing Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to understand catalyst stabilization.

Main Results:

• The developed supported bimetallic PtRu multi-atom catalyst achieves extremely high atom efficiency.
• The catalyst exhibits excellent stability and high activity for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR).
• DFT calculations confirm that strong Pt-N and Ru-N bonds are critical for stabilizing the multi-atom PtRu structure.

Conclusions:

• Full utilization of noble metal atoms is achievable through strategic catalyst design.
• The novel PtRu multi-atom catalyst offers a promising advancement for MOR electrocatalysis.
• Metal-nitrogen coordination bonds play a vital role in enhancing catalyst stability and performance.