Oxygen reduction reaction of Pt–In alloy: Combined theoretical and experimental investigations
By Pašti, Igor A.; Gavrilov, Nemanja M.; Baljozović, Miloš; Mitrić, Miodrag & Mentus, Slavko V.
Published in Electrochimica Acta
2013
Abstract
By means of the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, using the adsorption energy of oxygen on single crystal surfaces as criterion, it was predicted that the alloying of Pt with In should improve kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). To prove this, the Pt–In alloy having nominal composition Pt9In was synthesized by heating H2PtCl6–InCl3 mixture in hydrogen stream. The XRD characterization confirmed that Pt–In alloy was formed. The electrochemical measurements by rotating disk technique in alkaline 0.1 mol dm-3 KOH solution evidenced faster ORR kinetics for factor 2.6 relative to the one on pure platinum. This offers the possibility of searching for new ORR electrocatalysts by alloying platinum with p-elements.