Supported sub-5nm Pt-Fe intermetallic compounds for electrocatalytic application

Supported chemically ordered Pt-Fe intermetallic compounds have been prepared through a straightforward two-stage approach. By taking advantage of this straightforward two-stage synthesis, we have for the first time successfully obtained supported Pt3Fe1 and Pt1Fe1 intermetallic nanoparticles with a mean size of less than 5 nm, a narrow size distribution and good dispersion. The nanoparticles of supported intermetallic Pt3Fe1 and Pt1Fe1 compounds showed superior electrocatalytic activities towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The ORR enhancement in supported electrocatalysts made from Pt-Fe intermetallic compounds may be attributed to their geometric and electronic structure. Accelerated durability tests (ADT) show that Pt3Fe1/C has better durability, the electrochemical surface area (ECSA) values of commercial Pt/C decreased by 49% after 5000 cycles, but Pt1Fe1/C showed a reduction in the ECSA value of 3% after 5000 cycles.Chemistry, PhysicalMaterials Science, MultidisciplinarySCI(E)EI12ARTICLE136047-60522