Platinum-Cobalt Bimetallic Nanoparticles with Pt Skin for Electro-Oxidation of Ethanol

Authors

Binwei Zhang, University of Wollongong, Xiamen UniversityFollow
Tian Sheng, Xiamen University
Yunxiao Wang, University of WollongongFollow
Xi-Ming Qu, Xiamen University
Jun-Ming Zhang, Xiamen University
Zong-Cheng Zhang, Xiamen University
Hong-Gang Liao, Xiamen University
Fu-Chun Zhu, Xiamen University
Shi Xue Dou, University of WollongongFollow
Yan-Xia Jiang, Xiamen University
Shi-Gang Sun, Xiamen University

RIS ID

114732

Publication Details

Zhang, B., Sheng, T., Wang, Y., Qu, X., Zhang, J., Zhang, Z., Liao, H., Zhu, F., Dou, S., Jiang, Y. & Sun, S. (2017). Platinum-Cobalt Bimetallic Nanoparticles with Pt Skin for Electro-Oxidation of Ethanol. ACS Catalysis, 7 (1), 892-895.

Abstract

In order to maximize the Pt utilization in catalysts and improve catalytic processes, we report a convenient strategy for preparation of Pt3Co with Pt-skin structured bimetallic nanocatalysts directly supported on porous graphitic carbon. Notably, the thickness of the Pt-skin is only 1-2 atomic layers, about 0.5 nm. Surprisingly, the bimetallic nanocatalysts composed of Pt3Co with Pt-skin are first used as ethanol electro-catalysts, with the mass activity of 0.79 mA ¿gPt-1, which is a 250% enhancement compared with commercial Pt/C (0.32 mA ¿gPt-1). On the basis of the results of electrochemical in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS) and density functional theory (DFT), a new ethanol electro-oxidation enhancement mechanism is proposed in which Pt3Co with Pt-skin promotes partial oxidation of ethanol over C-C bond cleavage, thereby resulting in higher CH3COOH production than CO2 production.