Platinum nanosheets synthesized via topotactic reduction of single-layer platinum oxide nanosheets for electrocatalysis

Increasing the performance of Pt-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is essential for the widespread commercialization of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Here we show the synthesis of double-layer Pt nanosheets with a thickness of 0.5 nm via the topotactic reduction of 0.9 nmthick single-layer PtOx nanosheets, which are exfoliated from a layered platinic acid (HyPtOx). The ORR activity of the Pt nanosheets is two times greater than that of conventionally used state-of-the-art 3 nm-sized Pt nanoparticles, which is attributed to their large electrochemically active surface area (124 m(2) g(-1)). These Pt nanosheets show excellent potential in reducing the amount of Pt used by enhancing its ORR activity. Our results unveil strategies for designing advanced catalysts that are considerably superior to traditional nanoparticle systems, allowing Pt catalysts to operate at their full potential in areas such as fuel cells, rechargeable metal-air batteries, and fine chemical production.

Automated summary

We synthesized double-layer Pt nanosheets with a thickness of 0.5 nm by reducing single-layer PtOx nanosheets exfoliated from layered platinic acid. The ORR activity of these Pt nanosheets is twice that of conventionally used 3 nm-sized Pt nanoparticles due to their large electrochemically active surface area (124 m(2) g(-1)). These Pt nanosheets show great potential in reducing Pt usage by enhancing ORR activity and offer strategies for designing advanced catalysts superior to traditional nanoparticle systems in fuel cells, rechargeable metal-air batteries, and fine chemical production.