Ternary PtZnCu Intermetallic Nanoparticles as an Efficient Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalyst for Fuel Cells with Ultralow Pt Loading

It is of paramount importance to develop efficient methods for mass production of Pt-based nanoparticles (NPs) as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts with high performance to advance the commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Here, we present an environmentally friendly approach to prepare ternary PtZnCu intermetallic NPs attached within an N-doped carbon substrate. The synthesis process has the potential for industrial scale-up production. The optimized catalyst (PtZnCu-F-NC) exhibited impressive performance. The half-wave potential was up to 0.93 V (versus reversible hydrogen electrode) for the ORR in an acidic solution, and the activity reached 0.95 A mgPt-1 at 0.9 V. The assembled PEMFCs showed a fantastic performance of 1.1 W cm-2 under an H2/air atmosphere. The loading amount of Pt in the cathode was 0.04 mgPt cm-2, only one seventh of the commercial Pt/C (60 wt %). This work puts forward an ideal strategy for the large-scale production of advanced Pt-based nanocatalysts, which thus offers significant advantages for future practical PEMFC applications.

Automated summary

Developing efficient methods for mass production of Pt-based nanoparticles (NPs) as electrocatalysts is crucial for advancing the commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). This study proposes an environmentally friendly approach to prepare PtZnCu intermetallic NPs attached to an N-doped carbon substrate, with potential for large-scale industrial production. The optimized catalyst exhibits impressive performance, with a half-wave potential of 0.93 V and an activity of 0.95 A mgPt-1 at 0.9 V for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an acidic solution. The assembled PEMFCs show outstanding performance, achieving a power density of 1.1 W cm-2 under an H2/air atmosphere, with Pt loading amount only one seventh of commercial Pt/C.