Activity and stability of Pt/C and PtM/C electrocatalysts: In search of a compromise

Carbon supported Pt–Cu and Pt–Co electrocatalystsElectrocatalysts with increased platinum content on the surface layer of nanoparticles were synthesized by different chemical methods. The compositions, microstructures and electrochemical behaviors of these electrocatalysts were studied using the X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, X-ray fluorescence analysis, TEM and cyclic voltammetry. During stabilityStability tests (1000 voltammetric cycles in HClO4 solution) the values of electrochemically active surface area (ESA)Electrochemically Active Surface Area (ESA) for Pt–Cu/C catalysts reduced by 34%. Commercial Pt/C catalyst HiSPEC 3000 decreased ESAElectrochemically Active Surface Area (ESA) value by 70% (from 102 to 30 m2g−1 (Pt)) in the similar tests. High stabilityStability of the prepared Pt–Cu/C catalystsPt-Cu/C catalysts combined with the high ESAElectrochemically Active Surface Area (ESA) values and ORROxygen Electroreduction Reaction (ORR) activity may be due to the fact that despite a comparatively large size of nanoparticlesNanoparticles (NPs) most of them have a core-shellCore-shell or hollow (nanoporous) structure. The obtained result demonstrates a great potential for using bimetallic catalyst systems with an uneven surface distribution of metals in nanoparticles as electrocatalystsElectrocatalysts in low temperature fuel cells and show the way for combining high activity and durability of electrocatalystsDurability of electrocatalysts .