Platinum multicubes prepared by Ni 2+ -mediated shape evolution exhibit high electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction

• Main Authors: Ma, Liang, Wang, Chengming, Xia, Bao Yu, Mao, Keke, He, Jiawei, Wu, Xiaojun, Xiong, Yujie, Lou, Xiong Wen David
• Other Authors: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Chemistry::Physical chemistry::Electrochemistry
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/107163; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/25344; http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201500947
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Pt(100) facets are generally considered less active for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Reported herein is a unique Pt-branched structure, a multicube, whose surface is mostly enclosed by {100} facets but contains high-index facets at the small junction area between the adjacent cubic components. The synthesis is accomplished by a Ni2+-mediated facet evolution from high-index {311} to {100} facets on the frameworks of multipods. Despite the high {100} facet coverage, the Pt multicubes exhibit impressive ORR activity in terms of half-wave potential and current density nearly to the level of the most active Pt-based catalysts, while the durability of catalysts is well retained. The facet evolution creates a set of samples with tunable ratios of high-index to low-index facets. The results reveal that the excellent ORR performance of Pt multicubes is a combined result of active sites by high-index facets and low resistance by flat surface. It is anticipated that this work will offer a new approach to facet-controlled synthesis and ORR catalysts design.