Active-Phase Formation and Stability of Gd/Pt(111) Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction: An In Situ Grazing Incidence X-Ray Diffraction Study

Escudero-Escribano, María; Pedersen, Anders F.; Ulrikkeholm, Elisabeth T.; Jensen, Kim D.; Hansen, Martin H.; Rossmeisl, Jan; Stephens, Ifan E. L.; Chorkendorff, Ib

doi:10.1002/chem.201801587

Active-Phase Formation and Stability of Gd/Pt(111) Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction: An In Situ Grazing Incidence X-Ray Diffraction Study

Journal Article · Tue Jun 19 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Chemistry - A European Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201801587· OSTI ID:1476110

^[1]; Pedersen, Anders F. ^[2]; Ulrikkeholm, Elisabeth T. ^[2]; Jensen, Kim D. ^[3]; Hansen, Martin H. ^[4]; Rossmeisl, Jan ^[5]; Stephens, Ifan E. L. ^[6]; ^[2]

Univ. of Copenhagen, Copenhagen (Denmark); Technical Univ. of Denmark, Lyngby (Denmark); Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States)
Technical Univ. of Denmark, Lyngby (Denmark)
Univ. of Copenhagen, Copenhagen (Denmark); Technical Univ. of Denmark, Lyngby (Denmark)
Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States)
Univ. of Copenhagen, Copenhagen (Denmark)
Technical Univ. of Denmark, Lyngby (Denmark); Imperial College London, England (United Kingdom)

Alloys of platinum and gadolinium present significant activity enhancement over pure Pt for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), both in the form of extended electrode surfaces and nanoparticulate catalysts. The active phase consists of a compressed Pt overlayer formed on Pt₅Gd electrodes upon exposure to the electrolyte by acid leaching. Here, we investigate the formation, strain and correlation lengths of the active Pt overlayer by using in situ synchrotron grazing incidence X–ray diffraction on Gd/Pt(111) single–crystalline electrodes. The overlayer forms upon exposure to electrolyte under open circuit conditions; the compressive strain relaxes slightly upon repeated electrochemical cycling in the potential range 0.6 to 1.0 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). Furthermore, the strain relaxes strongly when exposing the electrode to 1.2 V versus RHE, and the thickness of the crystalline portion of the overlayer increases with potential above 1.3 V versus RHE.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-76SF00515

OSTI ID:: 1476110

Journal Information:: Chemistry - A European Journal, Journal Name: Chemistry - A European Journal Journal Issue: 47 Vol. 24; ISSN 0947-6539

Publisher:: ChemPubSoc EuropeCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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