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Carbon‐supported AuPt and AuPd bimetallic nanocomposites as formic acid electrooxidation catalysts
Author(s) -
Lewis Sharlene A.,
Wilburn Jeremy P.,
Wellons Matthew S.,
Cliffel David E.,
Lukehart Charles M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
physica status solidi (a)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.532
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1862-6319
pISSN - 1862-6300
DOI - 10.1002/pssa.201532256
Subject(s) - nanocomposite , bimetallic strip , formic acid , catalysis , cyclic voltammetry , electrochemistry , nuclear chemistry , carbon fibers , alloy , inorganic chemistry , materials science , nanoparticle , metal , chemistry , metallurgy , electrode , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , composite material , composite number
Repetitive syntheses of six AuPt/Vulcan carbon (VC) and six AuPd/VC nanocomposites by NaBH 4 solution reduction of equimolar mixtures of HAuCl 4 · x H 2 O and H 2 PtCl 6 · 6H 2 O salts or HAuCl 4 · x H 2 O and Na 2 PdCl 4 salts gives nanocomposites having highly dispersed metal alloy nanoparticles of similar average size (4–7 ± 2 nm). Significant variation in nanocomposite physical and electrochemical properties is observed. AuM alloy stoichiometries and total metal wt% vary by as much as ±11 at% and ±5 wt%, respectively. Activities toward electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid, evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, reveal one electrochemically inactive nanocomposite, higher activities for AuPd/VC nanocomposites than for AuPt/VC nanocomposites, and a maximum mass‐specific current of 3.8 mA cm −2 per mg total metal for one AuPd/VC nancomposite. TEM image of AuPt/Vulcan carbon (left image) and AuPd/Vulcan carbon (right image) nanocomposites. Bar represents 20 nm.