Synergism of Multicomponent Catalysis: One-Dimensional Pt-Rh-Pd Nanochain Catalysts for Efficient Methanol Oxidation

Abstract

Designing Pt-based alloy catalysts with multicomponent composition and a controllable structure is important to improve the utilization efficiency of precious metals and catalytic activity, but it still face a lot of challenges for simple preparation. Herein, we used insulin amyloid fibrils as templates and their own one-dimensional spiral structure to synthesize Pt-Rh-Pd ternary alloy nanochains under mild conditions. The prepared Pt-Rh-Pd alloy nanochains (NCs) have uniform diameter, and the particle size is only 2 nm. This ultrafine structure increases the specific surface area of the catalyst to a certain extent, and the synergistic effect of the three metals improves the catalytic performance. Compared with commercial Pt/C and binary Pt-Rh NCs, the as-presented Pt-Rh-Pd NCs show better methanol oxidation activity ability and stability against CO poisoning. The peak current density of front sweep is 1.48 mA cm–2, which is 1.7 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C (0.89 mA cm–2) and 1.4 times higher than that of the Pt-Rh NCs (1.07 mA cm–2), indicating great application potential as high-performance electrocatalysts in fuel cells.

Computational exfoliation of atomically thin one-dimensional materials with application to Majorana bound states

“…One-dimensional materials may therefore also be expected to exhibit special catalytic properties. Recent studies point to interesting methanol oxidation activity of alloy nanochains [18].…”

Effect of Rhodium Modification on Activity of Platinum Nanoparticle-Loaded Carbon Catalysts for Electrochemical Toluene Hydrogenation

“…We have also reported that a Pt 3 Ru alloy NP-loaded carbon black (Pt 3 Ru/C) catalyst has the highest activity among Pt x Ru/C ( x = 1, 3, 4) catalysts and MCH selectivity of almost 100% . Moreover, in our preliminary experiments with Pt 3 M (M = Ru, Rh, Au, Ag, Cu) alloy NP-loaded carbon black catalysts, rhodium was observed to be the best partner for Pt, although rhodium as a single catalyst showed lower activity than platinum for catalyzing electrochemical TL and benzene hydrogenation. ,, PtRh alloy and other bimetallic catalysts have been often used as catalysts for the oxidation of species including CO, − formic acid, , methanol, ,,, and ethanol. − ,, However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports to date about their use for electrochemical TL hydrogenation. In addition, the activity of the PtRh alloy and other bimetallic catalysts has often been evaluated as mass activity, defined as the current per total mass of Pt and Rh, because of the difficulty of evaluating electrochemical surface areas (ECSAs) of Rh and Pt individually using hydrogen adsorption/desorption peaks or oxide formation/reduction peaks.…”

“…28 Moreover, in our preliminary experiments with Pt 3 M (M = Ru, Rh, Au, Ag, Cu) alloy NPloaded carbon black catalysts, rhodium was observed to be the best partner for Pt, although rhodium as a single catalyst showed lower activity than platinum for catalyzing electrochemical TL and benzene hydrogenation. 30,31,33 PtRh alloy and other bimetallic catalysts have been often used as catalysts for the oxidation of species including CO, 34−42 formic acid, 43,44 methanol, 41,42,45,46 and ethanol. [36][37][38][39][40]47,48 However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports to date about their use for electrochemical TL hydrogenation.…”

Recent progress on the synthesis of metal alloy nanowires as electrocatalysts

“…Metal ions and polymeric fibres, including biological macromolecules that form linear assemblies in solution and electrospun nanofibers, 173,174 could assemble into 1D nanostructures and act as self-sacrificing templates to synthesize 1D alloy nanowires. 175–179 For instance, insulin amyloid fibrils (INSAFs) have been exploited to synthesize PtRh 180 and PtRhPd 181 nanowires (Fig. 24a and b).…”