Pt-Ni aerogels as unsupported electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

Henning S, Kuehn L, Herranz J, Durst J, Binninger T, Nachtegaal M, Werheid M, Liu W, Adam M, Kaskel S, Eychmueller A, Schmidt TJ (2016)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2016

Journal

Journal of The Electrochemical Society Electrochemical Society

Book Volume: 163

Pages Range: F998-F1003

Journal Issue: 9

DOI: 10.1149/2.0251609jes

Abstract

The commercial feasibility of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) passes by the development of Pt-based, O2-reduction catalysts with greater activities and/or lower Pt-contents, as well as an improved stability. In an effort to tackle these requirements, unsupported bimetallic Pt-Ni nanoparticles (NPs) interconnected in the shape of nanochain networks (aerogels) were synthesized using a simple one-step reduction and gel formation process in aqueous solution. The products of this novel synthetic route were characterized by X-ray absorption spectroscopy to elucidate the materials' structure. Using electrochemical experiments, we probed the surface composition of the as-synthesized aerogels and of equivalent materials exposed to acid, and concluded that a Ni-(hydr)oxide side phase is present in the aerogel with a larger Ni-concentration. Regardless of this initial surface composition, the Pt-Ni aerogels feature a ≈3-fold increase of surface-specific ORR activity when compared to a commercial platinum-on-carbon catalyst, reaching the mass-specific requirement for application in automotive PEFCs.

Involved external institutions

Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) CH Switzerland (CH) Technische Universität Dresden DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Henning, S., Kuehn, L., Herranz, J., Durst, J., Binninger, T., Nachtegaal, M.,... Schmidt, T.J. (2016). Pt-Ni aerogels as unsupported electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 163(9), F998-F1003. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0251609jes

MLA:

Henning, Sebastian, et al. "Pt-Ni aerogels as unsupported electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction." Journal of The Electrochemical Society 163.9 (2016): F998-F1003.

BibTeX: Download