title: Size-controllable synthesis of trimetallic RhPdPt island-shaped nanoalloys with enhanced electrocatalytic performance for ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium.
abstract: Size-controllable, high-yield, island-shaped RhPdPt trimetallic nanocrystals with sub-2.0 nm islands have been successfully synthesized through a facile aqueous solution approach. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) line scanning and elemental mapping analysis showed the as-synthesized RhPdPt nanocrystals are alloy structures. These island-shaped RhPdPt trimetallic nanoalloys showed a composition-dependent electrocatalytic performance for ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium. Due to the special structure and intermetallic synergies, the Rh10Pd40Pt50 nanoalloys exhibited an enhanced catalytic activity and durability relative to island-shaped Pd50Pt50 bimetallic nanoalloys and commercial Pt black. The peak current density for Rh10Pd40Pt50 nanoalloys was 1.81 and 1.38 times that for commercial Pt black and Pd50Pt50 nanoalloys, respectively. In addition, the peak potential on Rh10Pd40Pt50 nanoalloys decreased 42 mV relative to commercial Pt black and Pd50Pt50 nanoalloys.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou province 550025 (P.R. China).
authors.forename: Da-Bing
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Pei-Lei
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: ethanol oxidation; fuel cells; island nanostructure; platinum; trimetallic nanoalloy