Proton-exchange membrane
fuel cells (PEMFCs) represent an essential
technology for the future decarbonization of the transportation sector.
A major component of PEMFCs is the catalyst, often Pt-based alloys
supported on carbon black, which are sufficiently active and stable
upon long-term operation under the harsh reaction conditions implied
by PEMFCs. However, the catalyst synthesis is typically laborious
and challenging to upscale, employing organic solvents, surfactants,
or uneconomical metal deposition routes. To solve this, we offer a
mechanochemically assisted two-step solvent-less methodology to produce
supported metal catalysts, particularly supported PtNi and PtCo catalysts.
Accordingly, metal salts are first dispersed on the designated support
by planetary ball milling. Subsequently, the mixture is reduced with
hydrogen and annealed under an inert atmosphere to yield supported
alloyed nanoparticles. Notably, by applying our procedure to the synthesis
of carbon-supported PtNi and PtCo nanoparticles, we demonstrate that
size, composition, and total metal loading can be finely adjusted,
leading to highly performant catalysts in the oxygen reduction reaction
(ORR).