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Ir-skinned Ir-Cu Nanoparticles with Enhanced Activity for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

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Chemical Research in Chinese Universities Aims and scope

Abstract

The development of methanol-tolerate oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) electrocatalysts is of special significance to direct methanol fuel cells system. Iridium is known for its better methanol tolerance than platinum and able to survive in harsh acidic environment. However, its activity is relatively low and thus the approach to improve Ir’s ORR is desired. Herein, bimetallic Ir-Cu nanoparticles(NPs) with controllable Ir/Cu compositions(ca. 1:2 to 4:1, atomic ratio) are synthesized via a galvanic replacement-based chemical method. The as-synthesized Ir-Cu NPs are investigated as ORR catalysts after electrochemically leaching out the surface Cu and forming Ir-skinned structures. Around 2- to 3-fold enhancement in the intrinsic activity has been observed in these Ir-skinned Ir-Cu catalysts compared to Ir counterpart. The approach is demonstrated to be a promising way to prepare efficient Ir ORR catalysts and lower catalyst cost.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge Facility for analysis, characterication, testing and simulation(FACTS) in Nanyang Technological University for materials characterization.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Nanyang, Singapore

    Jiarui Wang, Ye Zhou, Libo Sun, Jingjie Ge, Jingxian Wang, Chencheng Dai & Zhichuan Xu

  2. Solar Fuels Laboratory, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Nanyang, Singapore

    Ye Zhou, Libo Sun & Zhichuan Xu

  3. Energy Research Institute@NTU, ERI@N, Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Nanyang, Singapore

    Zhichuan Xu

Authors
  1. Jiarui Wang
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  2. Ye Zhou
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  3. Libo Sun
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  4. Jingjie Ge
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  5. Jingxian Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhichuan Xu.

Additional information

Supported by the Project of the Singapore Ministry of Education Tier 2(No.MOE2017-T2-1-009) and the Singapore National Research Foundation Under Its Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise(CREATE) Programme.

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Wang, J., Zhou, Y., Sun, L. et al. Ir-skinned Ir-Cu Nanoparticles with Enhanced Activity for Oxygen Reduction Reaction. Chem. Res. Chin. Univ. 36, 467–472 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40242-020-0087-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40242-020-0087-1

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