Facile synthesis of Pt5La nanoalloys as the enhanced electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction and methanol oxidation reaction

Platinum-rare earth metal (Pt-RE) nanoalloys are the most promising candidates for fuel cells because of their superior activity and stability for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). However, the preparation of Pt-RE nanoalloys with chemical method is still challenge due to their huge standard reduction potential differences and the oxophilicity of the latter. Herein, this work provides a novel and facile strategy for the chemical synthesis of Pt5La nanoalloys to apply in both ORR and MOR. Pt5La nanoalloys are synthesized by co-reduction of Pt2+ and La3+ in LaCl3 and H2PtCl6 solution containing carbon powder and C2H4N4 by first heating at 550 degrees C for 2 h under N-2, and then heating to 700 degrees C under H-2/Ar for 2 h. The as-synthesized Pt5La nanoalloys present a high alloying degree at 700 degrees C, with the average particle size of 7.8 nm. The results indicate Pt5La nanoalloys lead to a significant enhancement in ORR and MOR performances related to the commercial JM-Pt/C catalyst. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

This study introduces a novel and facile strategy for the chemical synthesis of Pt5La nanoalloys, which show significant improvement in ORR and MOR performances compared to the commercial JM-Pt/C catalyst.