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Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical performance of nitrogen-modified Pt–Fe alloy nanoparticles supported on ordered mesoporous carbons

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Abstract

A method has been demonstrated to synthesize nitrogen-modified Pt–Fe alloyed nanoparticles (9.2–11.3 nm) supported on ordered mesoporous carbon (Pt x Fe100−x N/OMC), which is fabricated by a conventional wet chemical synthesis of Pt–Fe alloyed nanoparticles and followed by carbonization of the nanoparticles with tetraethylenepentamine as nitrogen chelating agent. Among these electrocatalysts, the Pt30Fe70N/OMC has highly catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with significantly enhanced methanol tolerance as well. Combining the results from X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, it can be observed that Pt metal in the Pt30Fe70N/OMC is present in the outer shell of Pt–Fe alloys with face-centered cubic crystalline structure. By X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the nitrogen-modified Pt surface of Pt30Fe70N/OMC exhibits significant selectivity toward the ORR in the presence of methanol. This enhancement of methanol tolerance could be attributed to the inhibition of methanol adsorption resulting from the modification of the Pt surface with nitrogen.

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Acknowledgments

Financial supports of this work from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan and Ministry of Economic Affairs (Bureau of Energy) of Taiwan (Contract No.: NSC99-2221-E-151-044-MY2 and MOST 104-ET-E-006-006-ET) are gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences, Kao-hsiung, 80778, Taiwan

    Feng-Sheng Zheng & Chung-Wen Kuo

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan

    Shou-Heng Liu

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Zheng, FS., Liu, SH. & Kuo, CW. Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical performance of nitrogen-modified Pt–Fe alloy nanoparticles supported on ordered mesoporous carbons. J Nanopart Res 18, 75 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-016-3387-0

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