Communication-Acid-Treated Nickel-Rich Platinum-Nickel Alloys for Oxygen Reduction and Methanol Oxidation Reactions in Alkaline Media

We investigate the performance of platinum (Pt)-nickel (Ni) alloy catalysts with very low amounts of Pt, namely PtNi3, PtNi7, and PtNi15. Pre-treatment of the alloys was performed in bulk acid solution, and activities for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) were measured in alkaline solution. Structural analysis suggests the removal of Ni only near the surface of the alloys. Pre-treated PtNi3 and PtNi7 are shown to be promising catalysts for both ORR and MOR in alkaline media. (C) 2017 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.