Key Words:Semiconducting germanium compounds;Cost effectiveness - Crystal structure - Electrocatalysts - Electrolytic reduction - Electron transitions - Germanium compounds - Hydrogen - Oxygen - Platinum - Polyaniline - Sodium compounds
Abstract:Exploring cost-effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) have been a goal in the sustainable hydrogen-based society. Although abundant of alternative materials have been developed, Pt/C remains the most efficient electrocatalyst for the ORR and HER. Nevertheless, improving the stability and reducing Pt loading for Pt-based electrocatalysts are still big challenges. Herein, semiconductor crystals Na<inf>4</inf>Ge<inf>9</inf>O<inf>20</inf> with richer topology structure was chosen as electrocatalyst support, subsequently, the conductive polymer polyaniline (PANI) was decorated on semiconductor Na<inf>4</inf>Ge<inf>9</inf>O<inf>20</inf>, low-content Pt nanoparticles (Pt NPs) with the size of 1–3 nm were then uniformly anchored on the surface of Na<inf>4</inf>Ge<inf>9</inf>O<inf>20</inf>-PANI to obtain the efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for ORR and HER in the acidic solution. More importantly, the stability and mass activity of the obtained electrocatalyst 5 wt% Pt/Na<inf>4</inf>Ge<inf>9</inf>O<inf>20</inf>-PNAI are significantly higher than that of commercial 20 wt% Pt/C for ORR and HER. It was proposed that the PANI could not only promote the electron transfer from Na<inf>4</inf>Ge<inf>9</inf>O<inf>20</inf> to Pt, but also stabilize the Pt NPs, thus, improving the electrocatalytic activity and stability of 5 wt% Pt/Na<inf>4</inf>Ge<inf>9</inf>O<inf>20</inf>-PNAI.<br/> © 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC
Volume:44
Issue:59
Translation or Not:no