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The electrochemical activity of two binary alloy catalysts toward oxygen reduction reaction in 0.1 M KOH

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Abstract

The platinum group metals (Pt, Ir and Ru) and the carbide-derived carbon support with the very high specific surface area were used to synthesise the low noble metal loading Pt-C, IrPt-C and RuPt-C alloy catalysts. The alloying of the platinum group metals in the studied catalysts was proved by the several independent physical characterization methods like: the X-ray diffraction, time of flight secondary ion mass-spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction of the synthesised catalysts in an alkaline solution was studied and compared with the commercially available Pt-Vulcan. The combined and detail approach using the transmission electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for estimation of the surface area of metal particles is provided. The noticeably higher calculated mass corrected and specific kinetic current density values for Pt-C catalyst were established. For IrPt-C and RuPt-C alloy catalysts, mass corrected current density values are comparable with the commercial Pt-Vulcan. The specific kinetic current density values increase in the following sequence: RuPt-C < IrPt-C < Pt-Vulcan < Pt-C.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the EU through the European Regional Development Fund under projects TK141 “Advanced materials and high-technology devices for energy recuperation systems” (2014-2020.4.01.15-0011), NAMUR “Nanomaterials—research and applications” (3.2.0304.12-0397), the Estonian institutional research grant No. IUT20-13 and by the Academy of Finland Project:SUPER.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14a Ravila Str, 50411, Tartu, Estonia

    E. Härk, R. Jäger, P. E. Kasatkin, P. Möller, R. Kanarbik, I. Tallo & E. Lust

  2. Soft Matter and Functional Materials, Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, 14109, Berlin, Germany

    E. Härk

  3. Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, 1 W. Ostwaldi Str, 50411, Tartu, Estonia

    U. Joost

  4. Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 14a Ravila Str, 50411, Tartu, Estonia

    J. Aruväli, P. Paiste & K. Kirsimäe

  5. Nanomicroscopy Center, Department of Applied Physics and Center for New Materials, Aalto University, 00076, Espoo, Finland

    H. Jiang

  6. Department of Chemistry and Material Science, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, 00076, Espoo, Finland

    T. Kallio

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  1. E. Härk
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Härk, E., Jäger, R., Kasatkin, P.E. et al. The electrochemical activity of two binary alloy catalysts toward oxygen reduction reaction in 0.1 M KOH. J Solid State Electrochem 22, 31–40 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-017-3720-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-017-3720-2

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