Sub-Monolayer SbO on PtPb/Pt Nanoplate Boosts Direct Formic Acid Oxidation Catalysis

To promote the commercialization of direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC), it is vital to explore new types of direct formic acid oxidation (FAOR) catalysts with high activity and direct pathway. Here, we report the synthesis of intermetallic platinum-lead/platinum nanoplates inlaid with sub-monolayer antimony oxide surface (PtPb/Pt@sub-SbO NPs) for efficient catalytic applications in FAOR. Impressively, they can achieve the remarkable FAOR specific and mass activities of 28.7 mA cm^-2 and 7.2 A mg_Pt^-1, which are 151 and 60 times higher than those of the state-of-the-art commercial Pt/C, respectively. Furthermore, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy results collectively reveal the optimization of the local coordination environment by the surface sub-monolayer SbO, along with the electron transfer from Pb and Sb to Pt, driving the predominant dehydrogenation process. The sub-monolayer SbO on the surface can effectively attenuate the CO generation, largely improving the FAOR performance of PtPb/Pt@sub-SbO NPs. This work develops a class of high-performance Pt-based anodic catalyst for DFAFC via constructing the unique intermetallic core/sub-monolayer shell structure.