Pt-Decorated PdCo@Pd/C Core-Shell Nanoparticles with Enhanced Stability and Electrocatalytic Activity for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

TL;DR

This paper presents a simple, scalable method to produce Pt-decorated PdCo@Pd core-shell nanoparticles that exhibit improved stability and electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction, with lower platinum usage and higher methanol tolerance.

Contribution

It introduces a novel, cost-effective synthesis approach for Pt-decorated PdCo@Pd nanoparticles with enhanced ORR performance for fuel cell cathodes.

Findings

Higher stability and activity for oxygen reduction reaction.

Reduced platinum loading compared to traditional catalysts.

Improved methanol tolerance in fuel cell conditions.

Abstract

A simple method for the preparation of PdCo@Pd core-shell nanoparticles supported on carbon has been developed using an adsorbate-induced surface segregation effect. The stability and electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction of PdCo@Pd nanoparticles was enhanced by a small amount of Pt, deposited via a spontaneous displacement reaction. The facile method described herein is suitable for large-scale lower cost production and significantly lowers the Pt loading and thus cost. The as-prepared PdCo@Pd and Pd-decorated PdCo@Pd nanocatalysts have higher methanol-tolerance for the ORR when compared to Pt/C, and are promising cathode catalysts for fuel cell applications.