Pt Atomic Layers with Tensile Strain and Rich Defects Boost Ethanol Electrooxidation.

Chen, Yuanjun; Pei, Jiajing; Chen, Zhe; Li, Ang; Ji, Shufang; Rong, Hongpan; Xu, Qian; Wang, Tao et al. · Nano Lett · 2022

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Surface and strain engineering are two effective strategies to improve performance; however, synergetic controls of surface and strain effects remains a grand challenge. Herein, we report a highly efficient and stable electrocatalyst with defect-rich Pt atomic layers coating an ordered Pt<sub>3</sub>Sn intermetallic core. Pt atomic layers enable the generation of 4.4% tensile strain along the [001] direction. Benefiting from synergetic controls of surface and strain engineering, Pt atomic-layer catalyst (Pt<sub>atomic-layer</sub>) achieves a remarkable enhancement on ethanol electrooxidation performance with excellent specific activity of 5.83 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> and mass activity of 1166.6 mA mg <sub>Pt</sub><sup>-1</sup>, which is 10.6 and 3.6 times higher than the commercial Pt/C, respectively. Moreover, the intermetallic core endows Pt<sub>atomic-layer</sub> with outstanding durability. In situ infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy as well as density functional theory calculations reveal that tensile strain and rich defects of Pt<sub>atomci-layer</sub> facilitate to break C-C bond for complete ethanol oxidation for enhanced performance.