Pt and Ru X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of PtRu Anode Catalysts in Operating Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Differences in the Electrochemical Performance of Pt-Based Catalysts Used for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells in Liquid Half- and Full-Cells

A substantial amount of research effort has been directed toward the development of Pt-based catalysts with higher performance and durability than conventional polycrystalline Pt nanoparticles to achieve high-power and innovative energy conversion systems. Currently, attention has been paid toward expanding the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of catalysts and increase their intrinsic activity in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, despite innumerable efforts having been carried out to explore this possibility, most of these achievements have focused on the rotating disk electrode (RDE) in half-cells, and relatively few results have been adaptable to membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) in full-cells, which is the actual operating condition of fuel cells. Thus, it is uncertain whether these advanced catalysts can be used as a substitute in practical fuel cell applications, and an improvement in the catalytic performance in real-life fuel cells is still necessary. Therefore, from a more practical and industrial point of view, the goal of this review is to compare the ORR catalyst performance and durability in half- and full-cells, providing a differentiated approach to the durability concerns in half- and full-cells, and share new perspectives for strategic designs used to induce additional performance in full-cell devices.

Confinement of Ultrasmall Bimetallic Nanoparticles in Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks via Site-Specific Nucleation

Conductive metal-organic frameworks (cMOFs) are emerging materials for various applications due to their high surface area, high porosity, and electrical conductivity. However, it is still challenging to develop cMOFs having high surface reactivity and durability. Here, highly active and stable cMOF are presented via the confinement of bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) in the pores of a 2D cMOF, where the confinement is guided by dipolar-interaction-induced site-specific nucleation. Heterogeneous metal precursors are bound to the pores of 2D cMOFs by dipolar interactions, and the subsequent reduction produces ultrasmall (≈1.54 nm) and well-dispersed PtRu NPs confined in the pores of the cMOF. PtRu-NP-decorated cMOFs exhibit significantly enhanced chemiresistive NO₂ sensing performances, owing to the bimetallic synergies of PtRu NPs and the high surface area and porosity of cMOF. The approach paves the way for the synthesis of highly active and conductive porous materials via bimetallic and/or multimetallic NP loading.

First high-pressure XAFS results at the bending-magnet-based energy-dispersive XAFS beamline BL-8 at the Indus-2 synchrotron facility

The static focusing optics of the existing energy-dispersive XAFS beamline BL-8 have been advantageously exploited to initiate diamond anvil cell based high-pressure XANES experiments at the Indus-2 synchrotron facility, India. In the framework of the limited photon statistics with the 2.5 GeV bending-magnet source, limited focusing optics and 4 mm-thick diamond windows of the sample cell, a (non-trivial) beamline alignment method for maximizing photon statistics at the sample position has been designed. Key strategies include the selection of a high X-ray energy edge, the truncation of the smallest achievable focal spot size to target size with a slit and optimization of the horizontal slit position for transmission of the desired energy band. A motor-scanning program for precise sample centering has been developed. These details are presented with rationalization for every step. With these strategies, Nb K-edge XANES spectra for Nb₂O₅ under high pressure (0-16.9 GPa) have been generated, reproducing the reported spectra for Nb₂O₅ under ambient conditions and high pressure. These first HPXANES results are reported in this paper. The scope of extending good data quality to the EXAFS range in the future is addressed. This work should inspire and guide future high-pressure XAFS experiments with comparable infrastructure.

Vapor synthesis and thermal modification of supportless platinum-ruthenium nanotubes and application as methanol electrooxidation catalysts

Metallic, mixed-phase, and alloyed bimetallic Pt-Ru nanotubes were synthesized by a novel route based on the sublimation of metal acetylacetonate precursors and their subsequent vapor deposition within anodic alumina templates. Nanotube architectures were tuned by thermal annealing treatments. As-synthesized nanotubes are composed of nanoparticulate, metallic platinum and hydrous ruthenium oxide whose respective thicknesses depend on the sample chemical composition. The Pt-decorated, hydrous Ru oxide nanotubes may be thermally annealed to promote a series of chemical and physical changes to the nanotube structures, including alloy formation, crystallite growth, and morphological evolution. Annealed Pt-Ru alloy nanotubes and their as-synthesized analogs demonstrate relatively high specific activities for the oxidation of methanol. As-synthesized, mixed-phase Pt-Ru nanotubes (0.39 mA/cm(2)) and metallic alloyed Pt64Ru36NTs (0.33 mA/cm(2)) have considerably higher area-normalized activities than PtRu black (0.22 mA/cm(2)) at 0.65 V vs RHE.

Synthesis-atomic structure-properties relationships in metallic nanoparticles by total scattering experiments and 3D computer simulations: case of Pt-Ru nanoalloy catalysts

An approach to determining the 3D atomic structure of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) in fine detail and using the unique knowledge obtained for rationalizing their synthesis and properties targeted for optimization is described and exemplified on Pt-Ru alloy NPs of importance to the development of devices for clean energy conversion such as fuel cells. In particular, PtxRu100-x alloy NPs, where x = 31, 49 and 75, are synthesized by wet chemistry and activated catalytically by a post-synthesis treatment involving heating under controlled N2-H2 atmosphere. So-activated NPs are evaluated as catalysts for gas-phase CO oxidation and ethanol electro-oxidation reactions taking place in fuel cells. Both as-synthesized and activated NPs are characterized structurally by total scattering experiments involving high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction coupled to atomic pair distribution functions (PDFs) analysis. 3D structure models both for as-synthesized and activated NPs are built by molecular dynamics simulations based on the archetypal for current theoretical modelling Sutton-Chen method. Models are refined against the experimental PDF data by reverse Monte Carlo simulations and analysed in terms of prime structural characteristics such as metal-to-metal bond lengths, bond angles and first coordination numbers for Pt and Ru atoms. Analysis indicates that, though of a similar type, the atomic structure of as-synthesized and respective activated NPs differ in several details of importance to NP catalytic properties. Structural characteristics of activated NPs and data for their catalytic activity are compared side by side and strong evidence found that electronic effects, indicated by significant changes in Pt-Pt and Ru-Ru metal bond lengths at NP surface, and practically unrecognized so far atomic ensemble effects, indicated by distinct stacking of atomic layers near NP surface and prevalence of particular configurations of Pt and Ru atoms in these layers, contribute to the observed enhancement of the catalytic activity of PtxRu100-x alloy NPs at x ∼ 50. Implications of so-established relationships between the atomic structure and catalytic activity of Pt-Ru alloy NPs on efforts aimed at improving further the latter by tuning-up the former are discussed and the usefulness of detailed NP structure studies to advancing science and technology of metallic NPs - exemplified.

Oxidation triggered atomic restructures enhancing the electrooxidation activities of carbon supported platinum–ruthenium catalysts

The atomic structure of carbon supported bimetallic nanocatalysts can be manipulated by oxidation treatment.

Elucidating the ionomer-electrified metal interface

The competitive adsorption of Nafion functional groups induce complex potential dependencies (Stark tuning) of vibrational modes of CO adsorbed (CO(ads)) on the Pt of operating fuel cell electrodes. Operando infrared (IR) spectroscopy, polarization modulated IR spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) of Pt-Nafion interfaces, and attenuated total reflectance IR spectroscopy of bulk Nafion were correlated by density functional theory (DFT) calculated spectra to elucidate Nafion functional group coadsorption responsible for the Stark tuning of CO(ads) on high surface area fuel cell electrodes. The DFT calculations and observed spectra suggest that the side-chain CF3, CF2 groups (i.e., of the backbone and side chain) and the SO3(-) are ordered by the platinum surface. A model of the Nafion-Pt interface with appropriate dihedral and native bond angles, consistent with experimental and calculated spectra, suggest direct adsorption of the CF3 and SO3(-) functional groups on Pt. Such adsorption partially orders the Nafion backbone and/or side-chain CF2 groups relative to the Pt surface. The coadsorption of CF3 is further supported by Mulliken partial charge calculations: The CF3 fluorine atoms have the highest average charge among all types of Nafion fluorine atoms and are second only to the sulfonate oxygen atoms.

PtRu nanoparticles supported on 1-aminopyrene-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation

A new synthesis method for the preparation of high-performance PtRu electrocatalysts on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is reported. In this method, bimetallic PtRu electrocatalysts are deposited onto 1-aminopyrene (1-AP)-functionalized MWCNTs by a microwave-assisted polyol process. The noncovalent functionalization of MWCNTs by 1-AP is simple and can be carried out at room temperature without the use of expensive chemicals or corrosive acids, thus preserving the integrity and the electronic structure of MWCNTs. PtRu electrocatalysts on 1-AP-functionalized MWCNTs show much better distribution with no formation of aggregates, higher electrochemically active surface area, and higher electrocatalytic activity for the electrooxidation of methanol in direct methanol fuel cells as compared to that on conventional acid-treated MWCNTs and carbon black supported PtRu electrocatalysts. PtRu electrocatalysts on 1-AP-functionalized MWCNTs also show significantly enhanced stability.

PtRu nanoparticle electrocatalyst with bulk alloy properties prepared through a sonochemical method

Properties of PtRu nanoparticles prepared using high-intensity sonochemistry are reported. Syntheses were carried out in tetrahydrofuran (THF) containing Ru3+ and Pt4+ in a fixed mole ratio of either 1:10 or 1:1. X-ray diffraction measurements confirmed sonocation produces an alloy phase and showed that the composition of the nanometer scale metal particles is close to the mole fraction of Ru3+ and Pt4+ in solution with deviations that tend toward Ru enrichment in the alloy phase. The materials gave responses that are similar in terms of peak potential and current density, referenced to the catalyst active surface area, to those of bulk alloys in voltammetry experiments involving CO stripping and CH3OH electrochemical oxidation in 0.1 M H2SO4. The results show that sonochemical methods have the potential to produce nanometer scale bimetallic electrocatalysts that possess alloy properties. The materials have application in mechanistic studies of fuel cell reactions and as platforms for the development of CO tolerant fuel cell catalyst.

Insights into the Distribution of Water in a Self-Humidifying H2/O2 Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Using 1H NMR Microscopy

Proton ((1)H) NMR microscopy is used to investigate in-situ the distribution of water throughout a self-humidifying proton-exchange membrane fuel cell, PEMFC, operating at ambient temperature and pressure on dry H(2)(g) and O(2)(g). The results provide the first experimental images of the in-plane distribution of water within the PEM of a membrane electrode assembly in an operating fuel cell. The effect of gas flow configuration on the distribution of water in the PEM and cathode flow field is investigated, revealing that the counter-flow configurations yield a more uniform distribution of water throughout the PEM. The maximum power output from the PEMFC, while operating under conditions of constant external load, occurs when H(2)O(l) is first visible in the (1)H NMR image of the cathode flow field, and subsequently declines as this H(2)O(l) continues to accumulate. The (1)H NMR microscopy experiments are in qualitative agreement with predictions from several theoretical modeling studies (e.g., Pasaogullari, U.; Wang, C. Y. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2005, 152, A380-A390), suggesting that combined theoretical and experimental approaches will constitute a powerful tool for PEMFC design, diagnosis, and optimization.