High-performance
PtNi alloy nanoparticle-supported multiwalled
carbon nanotube composite (PtNi/MWCNT) electrocatalysts can be prepared
via one-pot preparation for oxygen reduction reaction. This route
of preparation utilizes the pyrolytic decomposition of metal precursors,
such as Pt(acac)
2
with Ni precursors, nickel bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide
(Ni[Tf
2
N]
2
) or nickel acetylacetonate (Ni(acac)
2
), in an ionic liquid (IL),
N
,
N
,
N
-trimethyl-
N
-propylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide
([N
1,1,1,3
][Tf
2
N]). Currently, there is insufficient
information concerning the effect of difference in preparation conditions
on the formation mechanism and catalytic activity of PtNi/MWCNT. In
this article, a staircase heating process was used to investigate
the PtNi alloy nanoparticle formation mechanism and catalytic activity
of the resulting PtNi/MWCNT. We found that the alloy formation process,
composition, and crystal structure, which directly affect the electrocatalytic
activity, strongly depended on the Ni precursor species and heating
process. The catalytic performance of certain PtNi/MWCNTs collected
during the staircase heating process was better than that of PtNi/MWCNTs
produced via the conventional heating process.