Recent developments in Pt-based alloy nanoparticles for oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells

Abstract

The significance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFs) in economic recovery and climate action initiatives following a pandemic is growing. PEM fuel cells depend on precious-metal catalysts (often Pt or Pt-based alloys) to catalyze the reactions occurring at the electrodes. This is especially true for the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which is slow, represents a large source of energy loss, and brings the overall efficiency of fuel cells down. The performance, cost, and durability of these Pt-based catalysts for ORR hinder their widespread commercial application. As a realistic technique for decreasing Pt usage and related costs, researchers have concentrated intensively in recent years on producing more active and stable Pt-based alloy electrocatalysts. This review article mainly focuses on recent literature of Pt-based alloy electrocatalysts for ORR, especially the effect of nanoparticles (NPs) size, and shape and, therefore, the activity and stability of the generated electrocatalysts. The ORR activity and stability of Pt-based alloys such as Pt-Ni, Pt-Cu, and Pt-Fe, as well as other nano electrocatalysts, will be reviewed along with various synthetic approaches.