Platinum-Based Nanowires as Active Catalysts toward Oxygen Reduction Reaction: In Situ Observation of SurfaceDiffusion-Assisted, Solid-State Oriented Attachment

Tuesday publication update! In this publication post we look back at a study published in 2017! Even though commercial gas phase electron microscopy systems had not been on the market for long, already the authors from #ShanghaiJiaoTong and #CaliforniaIrvine were looking at oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts at the nanoscale for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The authors used the #AtmosphereAX system to vizualise the solid-state attachment of Pt nanowires!

A modified hydrogen-assisted, gas-phase synthesis for the facile and scalable production of platinum and platinum–nickel alloy nanowires was found in this paper. The method eliminates the need for surfactants, resulting in cleaner and more efficient catalysts.

Using in situ transmission electron microscopy, the growth stages and formation mechanism of these nanowires was shown. The nanowires form in the solid state through metal-surface-diffusion-assisted oriented attachment of individual nanoparticles. The interaction with gas molecules is crucial, indicating a gas-molecular-adsorbate-modified growth process.

By combining this method with wet impregnation, the authors could produce platinum-based nanowires supported on various substrate materials. This paves the way for next-generation catalysts to replace Pt/C in practical applications.

Want to read the whole research?
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adma.201703460

The video shows the rotation, attachment, and coalescence during the formation of a single short Pt chain from individual Pt NPs.

#Protochips #InSituMicroscopy #GasPhaseMicroscopy #FindYourBreakthrough #InSituTEM