Robust Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis Enabled by Platinum Rooted on Molybdenum Nitride Microrods

Abstract

Robust oxygen reduction electrocatalysis is central to renewable fuel cells and metal− air batteries. Herein, Pt nanoparticles (NPs) rooted on porous molybdenum nitride microrods (Pt/ Mo 2 N MRs) are rationally constructed toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Owing to the desired composition with strong electronic metal−support interactions (EMSIs) and a porous onedimensional structure supporting ultrafine NPs, the developed Pt/Mo 2 N MRs possess much higher ORR mass and specific activities than commercial Pt/C. In situ Raman and density functional theory calculations reveal that the EMSI weakens the adsorption of intermediates over Pt/Mo 2 N MRs via an associative mechanism. Moreover, the porous Mo 2 N support stabilizes these high activities. Impressively, a homemade zinc−air battery driven by Pt/Mo 2 N MRs delivers excellent performance including a peak power density of 167 mW cm −2 and a high rate capability that ranged from 5 to 50 mA cm −2 . This work highlights the role of EMSI in promoting robust ORR electrocatalysis, thus providing a promising approach for efficient and robust cathode materials for advanced metal−air batteries.

PdCu Bimetallene for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis

“…Fuel cell is recognized as a promising energy conversion device with high energy conversion efficiency, large energy density, and environmental friendliness. − The fuel cell mainly consists of cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and anodic fuel oxidation reaction. However, sluggish kinetics of ORR as a great bottleneck heavily limits the overall efficiency of fuel cells. − Nowadays, Pt-based nanomaterials are regarded as the best ORR electrocatalysts due to their outstanding intrinsic activity and suitable oxygen adsorption energy, but the susceptibility of Pt to contaminants causes unsatisfied durability, which has severely hampered its widespread application. − Currently, Pd is regarded as one of the most prospective alternatives for ORR due to its similar electronic and crystal configurations with Pt, ,,, but its high binding energy of oxygen usually causes lower ORR activity. Therefore, it is highly desired to design highly active Pd-based nanomaterials for efficient ORR electrocatalysis.…”

Polyethylenimine-Ethylenediamine-Induced Pd Metallene toward Alkaline Oxygen Reduction

“…The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an important half-reaction in fuel cells that has attracted intensive attention in the past decades, − but its slow reaction kinetics requires high overpotentials, and the design of efficient cathode catalysts for ORR remains one of the main challenges. − So far, Pt-based catalysts are recognized as highly active ORR electrocatalysts, but the easy poisoning of Pt limits their large-scale application. − In recent years, Pd is expected to replace Pt as an ORR electrocatalyst due to similar electronic structure with Pt and high stability. − However, the low oxygen adsorption of Pd leads to unsatisfied catalytic activity for the ORR. , As such, it is still necessary to design advanced electrocatalysts to boost ORR activity.…”

Synergistic Regulation of Pt Clusters on Porous Support by Mo and P for Robust Bifunctional Hydrogen Electrocatalysis

“…6 Regrettably, their practical applications are severely limited by the scarcity, soaring cost, and inferior electrochemical stability of these noble metals. 7 To overcome the dependence on noble metals, two primary approaches have been developed: developing noble-metal-free HER/HOR catalysts 8,9 or minimizing the amount of noble metal used while maintaining a superior HOR/HER performance. 10,11 According to the acknowledged volcano plots of the exchange current and calculated hydrogen binding energy (HBE, ΔG 0 H* ), optimal HOR electrocatalysts such as Pt present an ideal ΔG 0 H* value close to zero.…”

“…Pt and Pt-based materials are deemed as the most attractive electrocatalysts for catalytic HOR/HER, which ascribes to the appropriate adsorption/desorption energy for H 2 intermediates . Regrettably, their practical applications are severely limited by the scarcity, soaring cost, and inferior electrochemical stability of these noble metals . To overcome the dependence on noble metals, two primary approaches have been developed: developing noble-metal-free HER/HOR catalysts , or minimizing the amount of noble metal used while maintaining a superior HOR/HER performance. , …”