Effects of Surface Structures and Hydrophobic Species on the Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity of Pt3Fe Single-Crystal Electrodes

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on the low-index planes of Pt3Fe in O-2 -saturated 0.1 M HClO4 is studied using the hanging-meniscus rotating-disk electrode method. The ORR activity increases as follows: Pt3Fe (100) < Pt3Fe (110) < Pt3Fe (111). The ORR activity of Pt3Fe (111) is 20 times higher than that of Pt (111). The ORR activities on the low-index planes of Pt3Fe are improved by modifying the electrodes with hydrophobic species, such as the tetra-n-hexylammonium (THA(+)) cation, melamine, and the protonic ionic liquid [7-methyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo [4.4.0] dec-5-ene] [bis(pentafluoroethylsulfonyl) imide]. The ORR activity of melamine-modified Pt3Fe (111) is 1.4 times higher than that of bare Pt3Fe (111).

Automated summary

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on low-index planes of Pt3Fe in O-2-saturated 0.1 M HClO4 was studied. It was found that Pt3Fe (111) has 20 times higher ORR activity compared to Pt (111). Furthermore, the ORR activity on low-index planes of Pt3Fe can be further improved by modifying the electrodes with hydrophobic species.