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Lattice-Expanded Pt Overlayer with Surface Pb Modulation on a PtPb Alloy toward High-Efficiency Methanol Oxidation
Chaowei Zhang1, Mengmeng Xu2, Jiashuo Gu1
1Key Laboratory for Special Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for High-efficiency Display and Lighting Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Nano Functional Materials and Applications, Henan University, Kaifeng475004, China.
Researchers developed a novel platinum-lead nanosheet catalyst that significantly boosts methanol oxidation reaction activity and durability for direct methanol fuel cells by reducing carbon monoxide poisoning.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
Background:
- Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) face challenges due to sluggish methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) kinetics.
- Platinum-based catalysts suffer from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, limiting DMFC performance and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an advanced catalyst that enhances MOR activity and durability.
- To mitigate CO poisoning in platinum catalysts for improved DMFC applications.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of platinum-lead core/tensile-strained platinum shell with surface lead-modified nanosheets (PtPb@Pt@Pb NSs).
- Electrochemical characterization of catalyst performance in MOR.
- Density functional theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate reaction mechanisms.
Main Results:
- PtPb@Pt@Pb NSs/C demonstrated superior MOR activity and durability compared to conventional catalysts.
- Lattice expansion of Pt and surface Pb enhanced hydroxyl adsorption for CO removal.
- Weakened CO binding on Pt and lowered reaction energy barriers were observed.
Conclusions:
- The PtPb@Pt@Pb NSs catalyst effectively alleviates CO poisoning.
- The synergistic effect of tensile-strained Pt and surface Pb significantly enhances MOR performance.
- This catalyst design offers a promising pathway for advanced direct methanol fuel cells.
