Au _x Pd _{(300‐ x )} Alloy Nanoparticles for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Alkaline Media

Journal Article · 24 September 2020 · ChemElectroChem

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202000971 · OSTI ID:1786028

Trindell, Jamie A. ^[1]; Duan, Zhiyao ^[2]; Henkelman, Graeme ^[2]; Crooks, Richard M.  ^[1]

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1. Department of Chemistry The University of Texas at Austin 105 E. 24th Street, Stop A5300 Austin Texas 78712-1224 USA, Texas Materials Institute The University of Texas at Austin 105 E. 24th Street, Stop A5300 Austin Texas 78712-1224 USA
2. Department of Chemistry The University of Texas at Austin 105 E. 24th Street, Stop A5300 Austin Texas 78712-1224 USA, Texas Materials Institute The University of Texas at Austin 105 E. 24th Street, Stop A5300 Austin Texas 78712-1224 USA, Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Science The University of Texas at Austin 105 E. 24th Street, Stop A5300 Austin Texas 78712-1224 USA

Abstract Au _x Pd _{(300‐ x )} nanoalloys were prepared using a dendrimer‐templating method and their electrocatalytic efficiencies towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were analyzed in alkaline media. The composition‐dependent PdO _x reduction potentials of the Au _x Pd _{(300‐ x )} nanoalloys were correlated to the oxygen‐binding (O‐binding) energy of the catalysts. Multiple PdO _x reduction peaks were present for the Au ₁₅₀ Pd ₁₅₀ and Au ₅₀ Pd ₂₅₀ catalysts. These peaks were assigned to the alloyed and bulk‐like Pd active sites on the alloyed surface. The results described here are significant because modulation of the O‐binding energies improved the ORR activity on the nanoalloys. Specifically, a linear trend in O‐binding energies of Au _x Pd _{(300‐ x )} dendrimers (DENs) as a function of Pd composition resulted in a volcano‐shaped trend in ORR activity. The optimal O‐binding energy of Au ₅₀ Pd ₂₅₀ resulted in an approximate 89 mV shift in PdO _x reduction relative to Pd ₃₀₀ and a shift of approximately 76 mV in ORR peak potential.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0010576
• OSTI ID: 1786028
• Journal Information: ChemElectroChem, Journal Name: ChemElectroChem Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 7; ISSN 2196-0216
• Publisher: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: Germany
• Language: English