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Spontaneous incorporation of gold in palladium-based ternary nanoparticles makes durable electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

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  • Deli Wang

    (Key laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Huazhong University of Science and Technology), Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Sufen Liu

    (Key laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Huazhong University of Science and Technology), Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Jie Wang

    (Key laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Huazhong University of Science and Technology), Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Ruoqian Lin

    (Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory)

  • Masahiro Kawasaki

    (JEOL USA, Inc.)

  • Eric Rus

    (Cornell University)

  • Katharine E. Silberstein

    (Cornell University)

  • Michael A. Lowe

    (Cornell University)

  • Feng Lin

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Dennis Nordlund

    (Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

  • Hongfang Liu

    (Key laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage (Huazhong University of Science and Technology), Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • David A. Muller

    (School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University
    Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science, Cornell University)

  • Huolin L. Xin

    (Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory)

  • Héctor D. Abruña

    (Cornell University)

Abstract

Replacing platinum by a less precious metal such as palladium, is highly desirable for lowering the cost of fuel-cell electrocatalysts. However, the instability of palladium in the harsh environment of fuel-cell cathodes renders its commercial future bleak. Here we show that by incorporating trace amounts of gold in palladium-based ternary (Pd6CoCu) nanocatalysts, the durability of the catalysts improves markedly. Using aberration-corrected analytical transmission electron microscopy in conjunction with synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy, we show that gold not only galvanically replaces cobalt and copper on the surface, but also penetrates through the Pd–Co–Cu lattice and distributes uniformly within the particles. The uniform incorporation of Au provides a stability boost to the entire host particle, from the surface to the interior. The spontaneous replacement method we have developed is scalable and commercially viable. This work may provide new insight for the large-scale production of non-platinum electrocatalysts for fuel-cell applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Deli Wang & Sufen Liu & Jie Wang & Ruoqian Lin & Masahiro Kawasaki & Eric Rus & Katharine E. Silberstein & Michael A. Lowe & Feng Lin & Dennis Nordlund & Hongfang Liu & David A. Muller & Huolin L. Xin, 2016. "Spontaneous incorporation of gold in palladium-based ternary nanoparticles makes durable electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11941
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11941
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