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Ultrathin wavy Rh nanowires as highly effective electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction with ultrahigh ECSA

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Abstract

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) have received tremendous research interests because of the facile storage of liquid methanol vs. hydrogen. However, the DMFC today is severely plagued by the poor kinetics and rather high overpotential in methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). Here we report the investigation of the ultrathin Rh wavy nanowires as a highly effective MOR electrocatalyst. We show that ultrathin wavy Rh nanowires can be robustly synthesized with 2–3 nm diameters. Electrochemical studies show a current peak at the potential of 0.61 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), considerably lower than that of Pt based catalysts (~ 0.8–0.9 V vs. RHE). Importantly, with ultrathin diameters and favorable charge transport, the Rh nanowires catalysts exhibit an ultrahigh electrochemically active surface area determined from CO-stripping (ECSACO) of 144.2 m2/g, far exceeding that of the commercial Rh black samples (20 m2/g). Together, the Rh nanowire catalysts deliver a mass activity of 722 mA/mg at 0.61 V, considerably higher than many previously reported electrocatalysts at the same potential. The chronoamperometry studies also demonstrate good stability and CO-tolerance compared with the Rh black control sample, making ultrathin Rh wavy nanowires an attractive electrocatalyst for MOR.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge support from the Office of Naval Research Office under the grant number N00014-18–1–2491.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095, USA

    Xiaoyang Fu, Chengzhang Wan, Yiliu Wang, Zheng Fan, Frank Song, Bocheng Cao, Mufan Li, Wang Xue & Xiangfeng Duan

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095, USA

    Zipeng Zhao & Yu Huang

  3. California Nanosystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095, USA

    Yu Huang & Xiangfeng Duan

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  1. Xiaoyang Fu
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  2. Zipeng Zhao
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  3. Chengzhang Wan
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  6. Frank Song
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  8. Mufan Li
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  9. Wang Xue
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  10. Yu Huang
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  11. Xiangfeng Duan
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Correspondence to Yu Huang or Xiangfeng Duan.

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Fu, X., Zhao, Z., Wan, C. et al. Ultrathin wavy Rh nanowires as highly effective electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction with ultrahigh ECSA. Nano Res. 12, 211–215 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-018-2204-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-018-2204-8

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