One-step efficiently coupling ultrafine Pt–Ni2P nanoparticles as robust catalysts for methanol and ethanol electro-oxidation in fuel cells reaction

Abstract Multi-components valid interaction is significant to maximize the catalyst performance in fuel cells catalyst system. Herein, we demonstrate the successful fabrication of nano-structured Pt–Ni2P-Graphene hybrid by a simple one-step approach and their active and stable performance for alcohols oxidation in fuel cells reaction. The hybrid crystal structure formation with a slightly reduced lattice parameter and a close interaction for Pt and Ni2P nanoparticles are demonstrated by spectrum analysis; a strong electronic effect is found by a large negative shift of Pt 4f spectrum. The more and the less of Ni2P in the system gives lower catalytic ability; 20% Pt–Ni2P-Graphene demonstrates the best CO anti-poisoning ability and alcohols fuel electro-oxidation performance. Specifically, the mass activity and specific activity are about 3 and 2 times higher than that of Pt/Graphene catalyst for methanol oxidation, and about 2.7 and 1.8 times improvement for ethanol oxidation. The high catalytic activity, rapid kinetics and excellent catalytic stability can be attributed to the Pt and Ni2P hybridization formed in the one-step hydrothermal approach that imparts them high anti-poisoning ability and large electrochemical active surface area. This fabrication approach can also be extended to other analogues catalyst system for fuel cells catalysis.