Interface engineering of PtCuMn nanoframes with abundant defects for efficient electrooxidation of liquid fuels

Abstract

Precise design and synthesis of advanced Pt-based catalysts through modulation of the surface coordination environment at the atomic level are crucial for the industrial application of fuel cells. However, conventional surface engineering approaches are generally multistage processes. Herein, we report a simple one-step method to precisely synthesize a set of ternary PtCuMn nanoframes (multiple-pin and external branch structures) with high-index facets (HIFs) and high defect density via change of alcohol species, structure-directing agent and heating mode. Owing to the high density of abundant coordinatively unsaturated sites and the unique electronic effect of ternary alloys, the prepared PtCuMn nanoframes present excellent performance for methanol electrooxidation (MOR) and formic acid electrooxidation (FAOR). Specifically, the area specific current densities of PtCuMn with multiple-pin nanoframe morphology for MOR and FAOR are approximately 7.76 and 6.68 times higher, respectively, than those of Pt/C. More importantly, the catalysts show more stability compared with Pt/C. This proposed surface engineering approach not only realizes efficient architecture- and defect-controlled PtCuMn nanoframe electrocatalyst, but also provides fundamental insights into the roles of architecture and defects in renewable energy electrocatalysis.