title: Synthesis, shape control, and methanol electro-oxidation properties of Pt-Zn alloy and Pt3Zn intermetallic nanocrystals.
abstract: We report the first synthesis of highly monodisperse Pt(3)Zn nanocrystals (NCs). Shape-controlled synthesis generates cubic and spherical Pt-Zn NCs. Reaction temperature is the key to incorporate Zn into Pt, even in the absence of a strong reducing agent. The Pt-Zn NCs are active toward methanol oxidation, with the spherical NCs exhibiting higher activity than the cubic NCs. The Pt-Zn alloy phase can be transformed into the Pt(3)Zn intermetallic phase, upon annealing. The intermetallic Pt(3)Zn shows better performance than the alloy phase Pt-Zn. Besides the activity toward methanol oxidation, Pt-Zn NCs show excellent poisoning tolerance. With activities comparable to the commercial Pt catalyst, enhanced poisoning tolerance and lower cost, Pt-Zn and Pt(3)Zn NCs are a promising new family of catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Yijin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jun Beom
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Pyo
authors.forename: Xingchen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010316:Particle Size; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010984:Platinum; D015032:Zinc; D000432:Methanol