One-pot synthesis of three-dimensional Pt nanodendrites with enhanced methanol oxidation reaction and oxygen reduction reaction activities

Abstract

The high cost of Pt-based catalysts impedes the practical large-scale commercial application of fuel cells. Controlling the morphology of Pt nanostructure is one of the most promising approaches to promote the electrocatalytical activity and stability toward methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, we report a facile method for the synthesis of Pt nanodendrites consisting a dense array of dendrites using K2PtCl4 as metal resource, L-ascorbic acid as reducing agent and hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride as capping agent in aqueous solution at 96 °C for 30 min. Owing to the novel structure, the obtained Pt nanodendritic electrocatalyst exhibites superior MOR catalytic performance and particularly long-term stability both in acid and alkaline conditions. the Pt nanodendrites also exhibited a higher half wave potential of 0.86 V and lower tafel slope of 51.69 mV dec–1 when compared with 20% Pt/C (0.83 V, 93.55 mV dec–1) in acid conditions toward ORR. This work provides a promising way for the rational design of efficient and robust catalysts for sustainable energy conversion.