Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
Integrating Multiple Functional Components into Active Ensembles by Atomic Layer Deposition for Efficient Hydrogen
Jiaye Qiu1, Zhongyao Zhang1, Mansheng Liao1
1College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518060, P. R. China.
Researchers developed a novel WPtRu trimetallic catalyst (WPtRu-NC) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). This catalyst significantly enhances the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) activity and CO tolerance, reducing reliance on precious platinum.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
Background:
- Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) rely heavily on platinum (Pt) catalysts for the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR).
- Atomically dispersed Pt sites offer some mitigation for CO adsorption but suffer from deactivation due to trace CO poisoning.
- Developing efficient, low-Pt catalysts with enhanced CO tolerance is crucial for advancing fuel cell technology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer WPtRu trimetallic ensembles (WPtRu-NC) using a stepwise atomic layer deposition strategy.
- To achieve rational design of atomic synergistic geometries and electronic configurations for improved HOR performance.
- To establish a paradigm for atomically precise engineering of low-Pt electrocatalysts.
Main Methods:
- Stepwise atomic layer deposition to construct WPtRu trimetallic ensembles.
- Electrochemical testing in PEMFCs to evaluate HOR mass activity and power density.
- X-ray adsorption spectroscopy, in situ Raman spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations to elucidate catalytic mechanisms.
Main Results:
- WPtRu-NC catalyst demonstrated a 19-fold higher HOR mass activity compared to commercial Pt/C.
- Achieved a high power density of 1.5 W cm-2 at 0.6 V with good CO tolerance.
- Pt sites are active for HOR, Ru facilitates water dissociation and CO oxidation, and W provides stability.
Conclusions:
- The WPtRu-NC catalyst offers a promising low-Pt alternative for efficient and stable HOR in PEMFCs.
- The study reveals universal design principles for trimetallic clusters in energy conversion.
- Atomic-level engineering of catalysts is a viable strategy for developing next-generation fuel cell technologies.
More Related Videos
10:57Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
06:32A Simple, Low-cost, and Robust System to Measure the Volume of Hydrogen Evolved by Chemical Reactions with Aqueous Solutions
Published on: August 17, 2016
Related Concept Videos
02:13Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
02:17Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...