Size-Dependent Enhancement of Electrocatalytic Performance in Relatively Defect-Free, Processed Ultrathin Platinum Nanowires

Abstract

We report on the synthesis, characterization, and electrocatalytic performance of ultrathin Pt nanowires with a diameter of less than 2 nm. An acid-wash protocol was employed in order to yield highly exfoliated, crystalline nanowires with a diameter of 1.3 +/- 0.4 nm. The electrocatalytic activity of these nanowires toward the oxygen reduction reaction was studied in relation to the activity of both supported and unsupported Pt nanoparticles as well as with previously synthesized Pt nanotubes. Our ultrathin, acid-treated, unsupported nanowires displayed an electrochemical surface area activity of 1.45 mA/cm(2), which was nearly 4 times greater than that of analogous, unsupported platinum nanotubes and 7 times greater than that of commercial supported platinum nanoparticles.

Ultrathin platinum nanowires grown on single-layered nickel hydroxide with high hydrogen evolution activity

“…(ii) Ultrathin 1D Pt NWs may expose more active sites while maintaining improved electrons transport characteristics, compared with 0D Pt NPs, Pt NPs/Ni(OH) 2 and Pt/C@Ni(OH) 2 (ref. 38). Smaller charge transfer resistance of Pt NWs/SL-Ni(OH) 2 confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further demonstrates this improved electron transport property in 1D Pt NWs ( Supplementary Fig.…”

“…Unlike previous reports involving utilization of Pt electrodes 8,[19][20][21][22] , the selection of single-layered 2D Ni(OH) 2 (SL-Ni(OH) 2 ) nanosheets as the substrates is based on cost considerations 28,29 , as SL-Ni(OH) 2 sheets might be cheaply acquired via exfoliation of lamellar a-Ni(OH) 2 (refs 30-33). Furthermore, compared with commonly used zero-dimensional (0D) Pt nanoparticles (NPs), 1D ultrathin Pt NWs of high aspect ratios, few lattice boundaries and smooth crystal planes offer the opportunity for improvement of the catalytic activity [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] . Meanwhile, a large contact area between Pt NWs and the Ni(OH) 2 substrates can effectively alleviate possible migration and aggregation of Pt NWs and thus benefit enhancement of the catalytic stability 40 .…”

Controlled Synthesis of Pt–Pd Nanoparticle Chains with High Electrocatalytic Activity Based on Insulin Amyloid Fibrils

“…[1][2][3] However, its high cost and low CO poisoning tolerance severely limit the wider adoption of Pt catalysts. Alloying a second metal (M ¼ Pd, Au, Co, Ni, etc.)…”

Nanoporous gyroid platinum with high catalytic activity from block copolymer templates via electroless plating

“…15 To alleviate the problem and prolong the durability performance, the fabrication of nanoporous Pt is required. Various nanoporous Pt materials composed of nanowire networks, [16][17][18][19] nanotubes, 20,21 nanodendrites [22][23][24] and hollowed nanocrystals [25][26][27] have been fabricated for this purpose. Among them, nanoporous Pt materials with three-dimensional (3D) textures are of significant interest because of the well-defined and well-interconnected networks that provide the required robustness to simultaneously prolong the durability lifetime and increase the residence time of the reactant molecules on the metal surface owing to the confinement effect 28 of the enhancement of the electrochemical reactions.…”