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DOE OSTI · 2586819

Creating Favorable Pt/Co Interfaces via a Two‐Step Approach for Constructing Highly Durable PtCo Intermetallic Fuel Cell Catalysts

Liang, Jiashun [Department of Energy, Environmental, & Chemical Engineering Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis MO 63130 USA]·Yu, Haoran [Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge 37831 USA]·Zachman, Michael J. [Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge 37831 USA]·Hwang, Sooyeon [Center for Functional Nanomaterials Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton NY 11973 USA]·Qi, Manman [Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering University at Buffalo The State University of New York Buffalo NY 14260 USA]·Zeng, Yachao [Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering University at Buffalo The State University of New York Buffalo NY 14260 USA]·Zhang, Bingzhang [Department of Energy, Environmental, & Chemical Engineering Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis MO 63130 USA]·Li, Jialu [Advanced Light Source Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA]·Guo, Jinghua [Advanced Light Source Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA]·Dun, Chaochao [The Molecular Foundry Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA]·Macauley, Natalia [Giner Inc., Newton Massachusetts 02466 USA]·Wu, Gang [Department of Energy, Environmental, & Chemical Engineering Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis MO 63130 USA; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering University at Buffalo The State University of New York Buffalo NY 14260 USA] (ORCID:0000000308856172)
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Abstract

Structurally ordered PtCo intermetallics are one of the most promising oxygen-reduction catalysts in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) due to their intrinsically improved catalytic activity and stability relative to PtCo solid-solution alloys. However, increasing the heating temperature to achieve a desirable high degree of ordering results in severe particle agglomeration and low mass activity and stability. Herein, a two-step synthesis approach is developed to create an L1 2 -Pt 3 Co intermetallic structure with an increased ordering degree and well-dispersed ultrafine particles. The first step of the synthesis yields ultrafine Pt nanoparticles that are well-dispersed on the ZIF-8-derived carbon support. The second adsorption step enables us to fine-tune the Pt and Co interfaces, assisted by optimal amino acids, to establish a favorable Co-rich environment around fine Pt nanoparticles, facilitating Co diffusion into the Pt crystalline under mild thermal conditions (<800 °C). In conclusion, this two-step ordered L1 2 -Pt 3 Co catalyst is systematically evaluated using membrane electrode assemblies under heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) conditions and demonstrated exceptional performance and durability, retaining 1.35 A cm -2 only a 7% loss in current density at 0.7 V after an extensive accelerated stress test of 150,000 voltage cycles.

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Liang, Jiashun [Department of Energy, Environmental, & Chemical Engineering Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis MO 63130 USA], Yu, Haoran [Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge 37831 USA], Zachman, Michael J. [Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge 37831 USA], Hwang, Sooyeon [Center for Functional Nanomaterials Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton NY 11973 USA], Qi, Manman [Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering University at Buffalo The State University of New York Buffalo NY 14260 USA], Zeng, Yachao [Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering University at Buffalo The State University of New York Buffalo NY 14260 USA], Zhang, Bingzhang [Department of Energy, Environmental, & Chemical Engineering Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis MO 63130 USA], Li, Jialu [Advanced Light Source Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA], Guo, Jinghua [Advanced Light Source Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA], Dun, Chaochao [The Molecular Foundry Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA], Macauley, Natalia [Giner Inc., Newton Massachusetts 02466 USA], Wu, Gang [Department of Energy, Environmental, & Chemical Engineering Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis MO 63130 USA; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering University at Buffalo The State University of New York Buffalo NY 14260 USA] (ORCID:0000000308856172). 2025-08-23. Creating Favorable Pt/Co Interfaces via a Two‐Step Approach for Constructing Highly Durable PtCo Intermetallic Fuel Cell Catalysts. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202510847

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