Deciphering nanostructural evolution of PtCu/C–N electrocatalyst via identical location transmission electron microscopy imaging: Gram-scale synthesis and superior activity in oxygen reduction reaction

Electrocatalysts play a pivotal role in advancing proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) for hydrogen energy applications. In this study, we investigate a novel PtCu/CN electrocatalyst synthesized via a gram-scale synthesis approach, which demonstrates remarkable activity and stability in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The catalyst's effectiveness stems from its unique structure, combining bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) and an N-doped carbon support. Employing identical location transmission electron microscopy (IL-TEM) imaging, we observe significant NP structure reorganization upon activation influenced by the upper limiting potential. Notably, the PtCu/CN catalyst activated to 1.0 V surpasses the United States Department of Energy (DOE) target for ORR activity by 3.3-fold. These findings underscore the potential of this catalyst in enhancing the performance of PEMFCs, marking a significant advancement in hydrogen energy technology.