A vacuum impregnation method for synthesizing octahedral Pt2CuNi nanoparticles on mesoporous carbon support and the oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalytic properties

Abstract

Mesoporous carbon (MPC) nanomaterials, with large specific surface area, excellent conductivity and stability, and effective mass transfer are beneficial for use as catalyst support in electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for fuel cell applications. However, MPC utilization was limited by difficulties in loading catalyst nanoparticles within the MPC pores while simultaneously controlling critical particle parameters such as size and distribution. In this study we report a new vacuum impregnation method combined with solid-state chemistry synthesis for preparing highly active ORR catalyst nanoparticles on MPC supports. We confirm the effectiveness of this method by synthesizing octahedral Pt2CuNi nanoparticles on hydrophilic MPC with an even particle distribution in the MPC pores. We also demonstrate the capability of this method in controlling the particle size and morphology by adjusting the synthesis parameters. The synthesized catalysts exhibited excellent ORR activity and promising durability, which proves the goodness of using MPC support in ORR electrocatalysis. The findings offer a new methodology for synthesizing nanoparticles in MPC pores with parameter control and provide an intriguing strategy to develop new ORR catalysts using MPC support structure.