Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has been extensively investigated as an invariable cathode reaction and the main rate-determining step in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Various Pt-based metal nanoparticles (NPs) have shown the great potential to catalyze this sluggish cathodic reaction. However, the main problem of these NPs for ORR is their limited durability. In this presentation, we focus on our recent advance in rational design and controlled synthesis of FePt-based nanowire (NW) electrocatalysts towards ORR. FePt (or CoPt) NWs have been synthesized in high yield via a simple organic phase decomposition of Fe(CO)5 (or Co2(CO)8) and reduction of Pt(acac)2 in the 1-octadecene and oleylamine solution containing sodium oleate. Treated with acetic acid, these FePt (or CoPt) NWs become active and stable for ORR. Through coating FePtPd NWs with 0.8 nm FePt shell, we further found that FePtPd/FePt core/shell NWs are more active and stable for ORR than FePt NWs.

Multimetallic FePt-based nanowires as highly efficent catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

246th National Meeting (2013)

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