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Lattice-Vacancy-Mediated Structural Ordering of Pt-Based Alloy Nanocatalysts for Durable PEM Fuel Cell Cathodes

delete2026-03-27
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OA
AI
J
Jiasheng Lu
C
Carlos A. Campos‐Roldàn
T
Thomas Merzdorf
X
Xingli Wang
L
Lujin Pan
H
Hong Nhan Nong
F
Frederik Firschke
S
Sören Selve
J
Jakub Drnec
D
Deborah Jones
F
Fabio Dionigi
P
Peter Strasser *
DOI:10.1021/acsenergylett.6c00542delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Atomically ordered Pt-based intermetallic alloys have gained interest as promising cathode materials catalyzing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in hydrogen-fueled proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) with special durability requirements. This is the case because ordered Pt intermetallic alloys are believed to display superior chemical durability over their disordered counterparts. However, achieving the atomic-disorder-to-order phase transition typically necessitates prolonged high-temperature annealing, which often induces nanoparticle sintering and reduces Pt utilization. These challenges are particularly pronounced in acid-stable early transition metal Pt–M alloy systems (e.g., Pt–V), where alloy formation is hindered by the large disparity in reduction potentials. Here we present a lattice-vacancy-mediated synthesis strategy using evaporating Zn atoms as a cataloreactant to trigger the formation of the L12 intermetallic phase in the Pt–V system. This approach enabled the synthesis of highly ordered Pt–V alloy nanocatalysts with significantly suppressed non-noble transition metal leaching, thereby delivering enhanced PEMFC performance and durability. Online spectrometric and in situ spectroscopic analyses suggest distinct degradation mechanisms, characterized by isotropic V leaching in the ordered structure versus anisotropic segregation in the disordered structure. These findings underscore the efficacy of vacancy-mediated ordering as a synthetic paradigm for designing durable, high-performance intermetallic catalysts for PEMFC applications.
Keywords:
Pt-based intermetallic alloys
oxygen reduction reaction
proton exchange membrane fuel cells
lattice-vacancy-mediated synthesis
nanoparticle sintering

Journal

ACS Energy Letters cover
ACS Energy Letters
IF:
18.2
Papers:
5.2K
Citations:
6.6W

Organization

U
University of Montpellier and CNRS and ENSCM
Scholars:
15
Papers: 6
Citations: 0
T
Technische Universität Berlin
Scholars:
566
Papers: 302
Citations: 2.0W
T
technical university of berlin
Scholars:
241
Papers: 130
Citations: 0
E
european synchrotron radiation facility
Scholars:
149
Papers: 83
Citations: 0
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