Novel-Phase Structural High-Efficiency Anode Catalyst for Methanol Fuel Cells: α-(NiCu)3Pd Nanoalloy
An approach has been explored to highly improve the catalytic activity and stability for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) by using dominant α-(NiCu)3Pd phase-structural NiCuPd nanoparticles (NPs) as anode catalysts. The NiCuPd alloy NPs are monodispersed with the diameter of ∼10 nm and have been prepared by the reduction of Pd(acac)2, Ni(acac)2, and Cu(acac)2 following alloying growth process. In the Ni–Cu–Pd alloy system, Ni atoms fused in Cu3Pd phase to form α-(NiCu)3Pd phase together with NiCuPd solid solution phase. As Ni concentration gradually enriched, the crystallinity of α-(NiCu)3Pd became higher, while its percentage decreased by one degree. Owing to the synergistic effect between components and facet atom arrangement, the catalytic activity and stability of NiCuPd NPs can be adjusted toward the MOR in alkaline media. The maximized crystallinity of α-(NiCu)3Pd results in the largest catalytic activity. Compared with commercial Pd/C with (111) facets, α-(NiCu)3Pd phase with (117) facets afforded a more open-atom arrangement surface and exhibited the remarkable catalytic activity and stability. Containing maximized crystallinity of α-(NiCu)3Pd, Ni63Cu12Pd25 NP-modified electrode, afforded the highest catalytic activity (333 mA·mg–1) toward the MOR, which is about 2.5 times higher than that of the commercial Pd/C-modified one (145 mA·mg–1). Combining the advantages of high electrochemical activity, stability, and economical effectiveness, the novel phase of α-(NiCu)3Pd has great potential as an anode catalyst for methanol fuel cells.
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