Electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen: Gold and gold-platinum nanoparticle catalysts prepared by two-phase protocol

This paper describes recent results of an investigation of gold (Au) and gold-platinum (AuPt) nanoparticle electrocatalysts for fuel cell reaction at the cathode, i.e., oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The Au nanoparticles and AuPt nanoparticles with different bimetallic ratios were prepared by a two-phase protocol and supported on carbon black materials. The catalysts were thermally activated under controlled calcination temperatures. The electrocatalytic ORR activities were characterized using voltammetric and rotating disk electrode techniques. We have also attempted an initial comparison of the electrocatalytic activities of our Au/C and AuPt/C catalysts with commercially-available Pt/C and PtRu/C catalysts (E-tek) under the same voltammetric measurement conditions. The results revealed important insights into the electrocatalytic activity of our catalysts, and have important implications to the design of highly active fuel cell catalysts.