We report the facile synthesis of carbon supported PtAu alloy nanoparticles with high electrocatalytic activity as the anode catalyst for direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs). PtAu alloy nanopaticles are synthesized by co-reducing HAuCl4 and H2PtCl6 with NaBH4 in the presence of sodium citrate and then the nanoparticles are deposited on Vulcan XC-72R carbon support (PtAu/C). The obtained catalysts are characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), which reveal PtAu alloy formation with an average diameter of 4.6 nm. PtAu/C exhibits 8 times higher catalytic activity toward formic acid oxidation than Pt/C. The enhanced activity of PtAu/C catalyst is attributed to noncontinuous Pt sites formed in the presence of the neighbored Au sites, which promotes direct oxidation of formic acid by avoiding poison CO.
Revised: October 8, 2010 |
Published: February 15, 2010
Citation
Zhang S., Y. Shao, G. Yin, and Y. Lin. 2010.Facile synthesis of PtAu alloy nanoparticles with high activity for formic acid oxidation.Journal of Power Sources 195, no. 4:1103-1106.PNNL-SA-67933.doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.08.054