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In situ atomic-scale observation of oxygen-driven core-shell formation in Pt3Co nanoparticles

Author

Listed:
  • Sheng Dai

    (University of California Irvine)

  • Yuan You

    (University of California Irvine
    Yancheng Teachers University)

  • Shuyi Zhang

    (University of California Irvine
    University of Michigan)

  • Wei Cai

    (University of Michigan)

  • Mingjie Xu

    (University of California Irvine
    University of Michigan)

  • Lin Xie

    (University of California Irvine
    Nanjing University)

  • Ruqian Wu

    (University of California Irvine)

  • George W. Graham

    (University of California Irvine
    University of Michigan)

  • Xiaoqing Pan

    (University of California Irvine
    University of California Irvine)

Abstract

The catalytic performance of core-shell platinum alloy nanoparticles is typically superior to that of pure platinum nanoparticles for the oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cell cathodes. Thorough understanding of core-shell formation is critical for atomic-scale design and control of the platinum shell, which is known to be the structural feature responsible for the enhancement. Here we reveal details of a counter-intuitive core-shell formation process in platinum-cobalt nanoparticles at elevated temperature under oxygen at atmospheric pressure, by using advanced in situ electron microscopy. Initial segregation of a thin platinum, rather than cobalt oxide, surface layer occurs concurrently with ordering of the intermetallic core, followed by the layer-by-layer growth of a platinum shell via Ostwald ripening during the oxygen annealing treatment. Calculations based on density functional theory demonstrate that this process follows an energetically favourable path. These findings are expected to be useful for the future design of structured platinum alloy nanocatalysts.

Suggested Citation

  • Sheng Dai & Yuan You & Shuyi Zhang & Wei Cai & Mingjie Xu & Lin Xie & Ruqian Wu & George W. Graham & Xiaoqing Pan, 2017. "In situ atomic-scale observation of oxygen-driven core-shell formation in Pt3Co nanoparticles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-8, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-00161-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00161-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Wencong Zhang & Fan Li & Yi Li & Anran Song & Kun Yang & Dongchang Wu & Wen Shang & Zhenpeng Yao & Wenpei Gao & Tao Deng & Jianbo Wu, 2024. "The role of surface substitution in the atomic disorder-to-order phase transition in multi-component core–shell structures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Q. Jeangros & M. Bugnet & T. Epicier & C. Frantz & S. Diethelm & D. Montinaro & E. Tyukalova & Y. Pivak & J. herle & A. Hessler-Wyser & M. Duchamp, 2023. "Operando analysis of a solid oxide fuel cell by environmental transmission electron microscopy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Zezhou Li & Zhiheng Xie & Yao Zhang & Xilong Mu & Jisheng Xie & Hai-Jing Yin & Ya-Wen Zhang & Colin Ophus & Jihan Zhou, 2023. "Probing the atomically diffuse interfaces in Pd@Pt core-shell nanoparticles in three dimensions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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