Elevating the electrocatalytic performance of both cathode and anode catalysts is critical to the advancement and widespread utilization of low-temperature fuel cells.

Tuning the structure and morphology of Pt-based nanocatalysts is a facile but efficient strategy for advancing their electro-oxidation performance for small molecules. This study introduces a simple microwave-assisted process for the rapid preparation of bimetallic Pt3Cu nanodendrites (NDs) with multibranched morphology on a W-modified TiO2 nanosupport. The as-prepared nanocatalyst shows superior performance to C-supported Pt nanoparticles (NPs) (E-TEK) toward the methanol oxidation reaction with a negative onset potential, high-current density, and impressive CO tolerance and durability. The enhancement can be assigned to the unique properties of the dendritic-like nanostructure and the synergic and electronic effects of the compounds, Pt3Cu nanoalloy, and mesoporous W-modified TiO2 nanosupport. This work can open up an efficient approach for fabricating bimetallic Pt–M nanoalloys with a tunable structure and morphology to enhance their electrocatalytic performance with a decrease of Pt consumption for electrochemical energy conversion.

Non-carbon materials are considered as the promising candidates for carbon-based catalyst support to increase the durability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Due to the high stability and good electrical conductivity of TiO2, M-doped TiO2 (M is transition metals: Mo, Ru, V, W) is an emerging candidate for Pt nanoparticles support on the cathode side of PEMFCs. In this research, the synthesis mechanism of Ti0.7Ir0.3O2 nanostructure by the one-step hydrothermal method at low temperature was studied. We found that by only controlling the pH of the precursor solution, Ti0.7Ir0.3O2 can be synthesized with different morphology and phase selection without any formation of mixed oxides. In particular, Ti0.7Ir0.3O2 nanostructure synthesized at pH = 0 exhibited concomitant anatase, brookite, and rutile phases. The spherical particles of diameter 20-40 nm, cubic particles of 30-50 nm in side-length and rod-like particles with 70 nm in length and 20 nm in diameter represented the anatase, brookite, and rutile phases respectively. At a pH value of 1 or 2, the majority of spherical nanoparticles were homogeneous at 15-20 nm in diameter. It was observed that the electronic conductivity of novel Ti0.7Ir0.3O2 nanostructure was significantly higher than that of the undoped TiO2. Thus the promising properties of this new nanostructure open a new path to the much-needed fuel cell applications.

Designing a cost-effective catalyst with high performance towards oxygen electro-oxidation reaction (ORR) is of key interest for the development of green energy storage and conversion technologies. We report herein a...