IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-024-55612-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Efficient direct formic acid electrocatalysis enabled by rare earth-doped platinum-tellurium heterostructures

Author

Listed:
  • Xin Lin

    (Xiamen University)

  • Shize Geng

    (Xiamen University)

  • Xianglong Du

    (Xiamen University)

  • Feiteng Wang

    (Xiamen University)

  • Xu Zhang

    (Xiamen University)

  • Fang Xiao

    (Xiamen University)

  • Zhengyi Xiao

    (Xiamen University)

  • Yucheng Wang

    (Xiamen University)

  • Jun Cheng

    (Xiamen University)

  • Zhifeng Zheng

    (Xiamen University)

  • Xiaoqing Huang

    (Xiamen University)

  • Lingzheng Bu

    (Xiamen University)

Abstract

The lack of high-efficiency platinum (Pt)-based nanomaterials remains a formidable and exigent challenge in achieving high formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) catalysis for direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) technology. Herein, we report 16 Pt-based heterophase nanotrepang with rare earth (RE)-doped face-centered cubic Pt (fcc-Pt) and trigonal Pt-tellurium (t-PtTe2) configurations ((RE-Pt)-PtTe2 HPNT). Yttrium (Y) is identified as the optimal dopant, existing as single sites and clusters on the surface. The (Y-Pt)-PtTe2 HPNT/C demonstrates the superior mass and specific activities of 6.4 A mgPt−1 and 5.4 mA cm-2, outperforming commercial Pt/C by factors of 49.2 and 25.7, respectively. Additionally, it achieves a normalized MEA power density of 485.9 W gPt−1, tripling that of Pt/C. Density functional theory calculations further reveal that Y doping enhances HCOO* intermediate adsorption and suppresses CO intermediate formation, thereby promoting FAOR kinetics. This work highlights the role of RE metals in heterostructure regulation of Pt-based anodic nanomaterials for achieving the efficient direct formic acid electrocatalysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Xin Lin & Shize Geng & Xianglong Du & Feiteng Wang & Xu Zhang & Fang Xiao & Zhengyi Xiao & Yucheng Wang & Jun Cheng & Zhifeng Zheng & Xiaoqing Huang & Lingzheng Bu, 2025. "Efficient direct formic acid electrocatalysis enabled by rare earth-doped platinum-tellurium heterostructures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-55612-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55612-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55612-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-024-55612-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. I. D. Hughes & M. Däne & A. Ernst & W. Hergert & M. Lüders & J. Poulter & J. B. Staunton & A. Svane & Z. Szotek & W. M. Temmerman, 2007. "Lanthanide contraction and magnetism in the heavy rare earth elements," Nature, Nature, vol. 446(7136), pages 650-653, April.
    2. Junqing Yan & Lingqiao Kong & Yujin Ji & Jai White & Youyong Li & Jing Zhang & Pengfei An & Shengzhong Liu & Shuit-Tong Lee & Tianyi Ma, 2019. "Single atom tungsten doped ultrathin α-Ni(OH)2 for enhanced electrocatalytic water oxidation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Ryong Ryoo & Jaeheon Kim & Changbum Jo & Seung Won Han & Jeong-Chul Kim & Hongjun Park & Jongho Han & Hye Sun Shin & Jae Won Shin, 2020. "Rare-earth–platinum alloy nanoparticles in mesoporous zeolite for catalysis," Nature, Nature, vol. 585(7824), pages 221-224, September.
    4. Kui Jiao & Jin Xuan & Qing Du & Zhiming Bao & Biao Xie & Bowen Wang & Yan Zhao & Linhao Fan & Huizhi Wang & Zhongjun Hou & Sen Huo & Nigel P. Brandon & Yan Yin & Michael D. Guiver, 2021. "Designing the next generation of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells," Nature, Nature, vol. 595(7867), pages 361-369, July.
    5. Xiaoning Wang & Yanfu Tong & Wenting Feng & Pengyun Liu & Xuejin Li & Yongpeng Cui & Tonghui Cai & Lianming Zhao & Qingzhong Xue & Zifeng Yan & Xun Yuan & Wei Xing, 2023. "Embedding oxophilic rare-earth single atom in platinum nanoclusters for efficient hydrogen electro-oxidation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Chuanhao Yao & Na Guo & Shibo Xi & Cong-Qiao Xu & Wei Liu & Xiaoxu Zhao & Jing Li & Hanyan Fang & Jie Su & Zhongxin Chen & Huan Yan & Zhizhan Qiu & Pin Lyu & Cheng Chen & Haomin Xu & Xinnan Peng & Xin, 2020. "Atomically-precise dopant-controlled single cluster catalysis for electrochemical nitrogen reduction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhang, Yong & He, Shirong & Jiang, Xiaohui & Xiong, Mu & Ye, Yuntao & Yang, Xi, 2023. "Three-dimensional multi-phase simulation of proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance considering constriction straight channel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    2. Zhang, Xiaoqing & Yang, Jiapei & Ma, Xiao & Zhuge, Weilin & Shuai, Shijin, 2022. "Modelling and analysis on effects of penetration of microporous layer into gas diffusion layer in PEM fuel cells: Focusing on mass transport," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    3. Lu, Guolong & Fan, Wenxuan & Lu, Dafeng & Zhao, Taotao & Wu, Qianqian & Liu, Mingxin & Liu, Zhenning, 2024. "Lung-inspired hybrid flow field to enhance PEMFC performance: A case of dual optimization by response surface and artificial intelligence," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 355(C).
    4. Yunjie Yang & Minli Bai & Laisuo Su & Jizu Lv & Chengzhi Hu & Linsong Gao & Yang Li & Yubai Li & Yongchen Song, 2022. "One-Dimensional Numerical Simulation of Pt-Co Alloy Catalyst Aging for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-23, September.
    5. Cui, Zhengxing & Wang, Yeqing & Zhang, Peipei & Lu, Song & Chen, Yuxuan & Yu, Xiaotao & Guo, Min & Liu, Tiancun & Ying, Jiadi & Shen, Qi & Jin, Yinying & Yu, Zhixin, 2024. "Stable Cuδ+ species - Catalyzed CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol in silanol nests on Cu/S-1 catalyst," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    6. Ahmed Mohmed Dafalla & Lin Wei & Bereket Tsegai Habte & Jian Guo & Fangming Jiang, 2022. "Membrane Electrode Assembly Degradation Modeling of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-26, December.
    7. Venkatesan, Suriya & Mitzel, Jens & Wegner, Karsten & Costa, Remi & Gazdzicki, Pawel & Friedrich, Kaspar Andreas, 2022. "Nanomaterials and films for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells and solid oxide cells by flame spray pyrolysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    8. Su, Chao & Chen, Zhidong & Wu, Zexuan & Zhang, Jing & Li, Kaiyang & Hao, Junhong & Kong, Yanqiang & Zhang, Naiqiang, 2024. "Experimental and numerical study of thermal coupling on catalyst-coated membrane for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    9. Yao, Jing & Wu, Zhen & Wang, Huan & Yang, Fusheng & Xuan, Jin & Xing, Lei & Ren, Jianwei & Zhang, Zaoxiao, 2022. "Design and multi-objective optimization of low-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells with efficient water recovery and high electrochemical performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    10. Tao, Jianjian & Zhang, Yihan & Wei, Xuezhe & Jiang, Shangfeng & Dai, Haifeng, 2024. "Optimization of fast cold start strategy for PEM fuel cell stack," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    11. Ding, Hongbing & Zhang, Panpan & Dong, Yuanyuan & Yang, Yan, 2024. "Optimization of hydrogen recirculation ejector for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) systems considering non-equilibrium condensation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PC).
    12. Li, Yanju & Li, Dongxu & Ma, Zheshu & Zheng, Meng & Lu, Zhanghao & Song, Hanlin & Guo, Xinjia & Shao, Wei, 2022. "Performance analysis and optimization of a novel vehicular power system based on HT-PEMFC integrated methanol steam reforming and ORC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    13. Li, Xiang & Tang, Fumin & Wang, Qianqian & Li, Bing & Dai, Haifeng & Chang, Guofeng & Zhang, Cunman & Ming, Pingwen, 2023. "Effect of cathode catalyst layer on proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance: Considering the spatially variable distribution," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 644-654.
    14. Hoang Nghia Vu & Dinh Hoang Trinh & Dat Truong Le Tri & Sangseok Yu, 2023. "Bypass Configurations of Membrane Humidifiers for Water Management in PEM Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-17, October.
    15. Ye, Lingfeng & Qiu, Diankai & Peng, Linfa & Lai, Xinmin, 2024. "Conduction mechanism analysis and modeling of different gas diffusion layers for PEMFC to improve their bulk conductivities via microstructure design," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    16. Zhang, Zhuo & Wang, Qi-yao & Bai, Fan & Chen, Li & Tao, Wen-quan, 2023. "Performance simulation and key parameters in-plane distribution analysis of a commercial-size PEMFC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PC).
    17. Minju Song & Yoonkyum Kim & Du San Baek & Ho Young Kim & Da Hwi Gu & Haiyang Li & Benjamin V. Cunning & Seong Eun Yang & Seung Hwae Heo & Seunghyun Lee & Minhyuk Kim & June Sung Lim & Hu Young Jeong &, 2023. "3D microprinting of inorganic porous materials by chemical linking-induced solidification of nanocrystals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    18. Chen, Huicui & Zhang, Ruirui & Xia, Zhifeng & Weng, Qianyao & Zhang, Tong & Pei, Pucheng, 2023. "Experimental investigation on PEM fuel cell flooding mitigation under heavy loading condition," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    19. Hongbo Ji & Quan Yuan & Xiaoyong Zhu & Nenad Janković & Xiaoping Chen, 2025. "Multi-Objective Optimization of Blockage Design Parameters Affecting the Performance of PEMFC by OEM-AHP-EWM Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-19, March.
    20. Zhe Chen & Jili Li & Lingshen Meng & Jianan Li & Yaming Hao & Tao Jiang & Xuejing Yang & Yefei Li & Zhi-Pan Liu & Ming Gong, 2023. "Ligand vacancy channels in pillared inorganic-organic hybrids for electrocatalytic organic oxidation with enzyme-like activities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-55612-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.