Synthesising Single Atom Pt catalysts on metal nanoparticles for enhanced electrocatalytic activity in methanol fuel cells
Researchers
Research areas
Nanocatalysis, Electrocatalysis, Nanoparticle synthesis and design, Single-atom catalysts and Power Devices
Project Brief
Methanol fuel cells (MFCs) are important devices that require high energy mainly due to their high-power output. Pt-Ru alloys are between the most active methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) catalysts. However, the Pt atoms on the catalysts can easily become poisoned by CO which forms during the conversion of methanol. Depositing Pt directly onto Ru nanoparticles (NPs) with subsequent spreading processes leads to Pt single atoms (SAs) on a metallic Ru surface. These SA Pt sites are unique in their catalytic properties, due to the maximized utilization of Pt loading. Thus, being highly active and do not becoming poisoned by CO.
Recently, a novel synthetic approach to form stable bimetallic SAs was developed in UNSW facilities. This method consists in the growth of Pt islands on a metallic surface followed by an annealing step, which results in the uniform spreading of the as-prepared islands to form the desired SA species. Since noble metals like Ru have become highly scarce and expensive, other abundant and cheaper metals are attractive alternatives to use as SAs supports. In this project, tailor-made metallic NPs will be decorated with single Pt atoms through the mentioned methodology, expecting to afford a high-performance MOR single atom catalysts (SACs).
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) related techniques will be widely utilized. The stability and catalytic activity of Pt SACs will be also monitored by multiple electrochemical analytical techniques, looking for demonstrating the effectiveness of these new bimetallic SA materials.