Intermetallic PtBi Nanoplates with High Catalytic Activity towards Electro-oxidation of Formic Acid and Glycerol

Despite considerable progress made for direct liquid fuel cells, developing efficient electrocatalysts for the oxidation of small organic molecules reaction remains a challenge. Herein, we employed a facile one-pot method to synthesize hexagonal intermetallic PtBi nanoplates. Benefiting from the unique structure and third body effect, the mass activity of formic acid oxidation on PtBi/C at peak potential reaches 9.06 A . mg(Pt)(-1), which is 10.4 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C catalyst, making it the most efficient electrocatalyst ever reported. In situ FTIR spectroscopic studies revealed that the introduction of Bi suppresses dramatically CO-poisoning, which effectively improves the activity and stability towards formic acid oxidation. Furthermore, in situ FTIR spectra of glycerol oxidation indicate that much more oxalate and tartronate are produced on PtBi/C than that on Pt/C, and a plausible reaction mechanism for the oxidation of glycerol on PtBi/C catalyst in alkaline solution was proposed.