For energy-related materials, understanding of property-structure relationship can only be built on the precise characterization of the crystal, interfacial and surface structures. Advanced (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM) techniques have been developed to investigate these structures in atomic scale in recent years. It is possible to establish a direct link from the composition and surface structure to the performance of electrocatalysis. In this talk, I will discuss the recent progresses in the Pt-based catalysis for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, especially on how the strain and ligand effects affecting the surface electronic structure and then the overall performance. In case of PtPb/Pt(110) faceted core-shell nanoplates, the biaxial strain from PtPb to Pt may help to optimize the Pt-oxygen bond strength and therefore boost their activity and stability for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). This talk highlights the importance of advanced TEM for developing electrocatalysts, in combination of electrochemical characterization and first principles calculations.

Transmission electron microscopy characterization of metallic nanostructures for electrocatalysis

256th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.