Synthesis\u2013structure\u2013morphology interplay of bimetallic\u201ccore\u2013shell\u201d carbon nitride nano-electrocatalysts

An extensive morphological and structural study of two bimetallic \u201ccore\u2013shell\u201d carbon nitride nano-electrocatalysts with active sites based on Pt and Ni or on Pt and Fe is reported. The core\u2013shell electrocatalysts are obtained by the pyrolysis of a precursor obtained by decorating a support composed of conducting particles with a hybrid inorganic\u2013organic material. The electrocatalysts were investigated by high-resolution TEM, powder X-ray diffraction, and m-Raman spectroscopy. The morphological and structural information presented herein provides 1) insight into the microscopic features, affecting the electrochemical performance of the electrocatalyst materials determined in both ex situ measurements and single-cell configurations; and 2) an opportunity to study the effect of the different precursor chemistries on the structure and morphology of the bimetallic core\u2013shell carbon nitride nano-electrocatalysts