Surface elemental distribution effect of Pt-Pb hexagonal nanoplates for electrocatalytic methanol oxidation reaction

Publication date: May 2020Source: Chinese Journal of Catalysis, Volume 41, Issue 5Author(s): Hee Jin Kim, Yong-Deok Ahn, Jeonghyeon Kim, Kyoung-Su Kim, Yeon Uk Jeong, Jong Wook Hong, Sang-Il ChoiAbstractBimetallic Pt-based catalysts have been extensively investigated to enhance the performance of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) because CO, a by-product, reduces the activity of the pure Pt catalysts. Herein, we synthesized Pt-Pb hexagonal nanoplates as a model catalyst for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and further controlled the Pt and Pb distributions on the surface of the nanoplates through acetic acid (HAc) treatment. As a result, we obtained Pt-Pb nanoplates and HAc-treated Pt-Pb nanoplates with homogeneous and heterogeneous distributions of the Pt-Pb alloy surfaces, respectively. We showed that the MOR activity and stability of the Pt-Pb nanoplates improved compared to those of the HAc-treated Pt-Pb nanoplates, mainly due to the enhanced CO tolerance and the modified electronic structure of Pt under the influence of the oxophilic Pb.Graphical AbstractPt-Pb hexagonal nanoplates with Pt and Pb atoms uniformly distributed on the surface showed improved catalytic activity and stability toward the methanol oxidation reaction.
Source: Chinese Journal of Catalysis - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research