Database-guided thermodynamic-kinetic regulation for PtNi-based intermetallic electrocatalysts.

Song, Anran; Li, Yi; Tian, Jiakang; Fang, Zhen; Yao, Zhenpeng; Zhang, Wencong; Wu, Jianbo · Sci Adv · 2026

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Pt-Ni alloys exhibit outstanding oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity, yet achieving structural ordering to enhance stability remains a persistent challenge. Here, we propose a database-guided screening strategy to identify promoter elements (X) that facilitate ordering. By screening the critical disorder-to-order transition temperature ([Formula: see text]), solid solubility ([Formula: see text]), and diffusion pre-exponential factor ([Formula: see text]) of candidate elements from material databases, six sets of L1<sub>0</sub>-Pt(NiX) nanoparticles were synthesized. The developed L1<sub>0</sub>-PtNiFe catalysts demonstrated a high mass activity (MA) of 4.38 A mg<sub>Pt</sub><sup>-1</sup>, retaining 82.1% after 50,000 cycles of accelerated durability testing (ADT) in half-cells, and retaining 79% of its initial MA of 1.1 A mg<sub>Pt</sub><sup>-1</sup> after 30,000 cycles in membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Theoretical calculations reveal that X incorporation broadens the annealing temperature ([Formula: see text]) window by forming Pt(NiX) with higher [Formula: see text] and lowering the kinetic threshold temperature ([Formula: see text]) via enhanced atom mobility. This work establishes a database-guided framework that enables phase transitions previously difficult to access by creating an effective annealing window through coordinated thermodynamic-kinetic regulation, thereby facilitating the formation of ordered PtNi-based intermetallic structures toward durable electrocatalysts.