Batch Preparation of PtCo/C for High-Performance Oxygen Reduction Reaction Based on a Continuous-Flow Microwave Pipeline Reactor

Abstract

Alloying Pt with 3d transition metals has proven to be the most attractive oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells with improved catalytic activity and stability; thus, their large-scale and cost-effective production is in high demand. Herein, we present a strategy for the batch preparation of PtCo/C with a highly uniform morphology and tiny PtCo dispersions of 2.48 nm using a continuous-flow microwave pipeline reactor. Due to its unique structure, which greatly facilitated the catalytic kinetics, the prepared PtCo/C catalyst exhibited an initial mass activity of 485.6 mA•mg −1 pt at 0.9 V, which was 3.6 times higher than that of the commercial Pt/C catalysts. The as-obtained PtCo/C was able to maintain 74.6% of the initial activity after 30,000 accelerated cycle tests. Furthermore, a maximum power density of 1.76 W•cm −2 was attained in a single-cell test under 0.2 mg•cm −2 Pt loading conditions, far exceeding those of commercial Pt/C catalysts.