Shangfeng Jiang

A novel ultra-thin catalyst layer based on wheat ear-like catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Wheat ear-like catalysts were prepared on Co–OH–CO3 nanowires to design an ultra-thin catalyst layer (UTCL). Without any ionomers, the UTCL exhibited a maximum power density of 481 mW cm−2 at an ultra-low Pt loading of 43 μg cm−2Pt, resulting in a relatively high Pt utilization of 11.2 kW g−1Pt. It is expected that the nanostructured thin film materials will lead to further technological advancements in fuel cells and other applications.

Palladium–nickel catalysts based on ordered titanium dioxide nanorod arrays with high catalytic peformance for formic acid electro-oxidation

Ordered titanium dioxide nanorod arrays are prepared by a hydrothermal method and applied to the catalyst supports of the palladium–nickel catalysts (Pd2Ni3–TiO2) for formic acid oxidation. Due to the three-dimensional catalytic structure and alloying effect, the Pd2Ni3–TiO2 exhibits superior mass activity and long-term stability than those of Pd–TiO2 and commercial PdC catalysts. The present work opens a new approach to design catalysts with superior catalytic performance and durability for direct formic acid fuel cells with three-dimensional catalytic structure.

A PtPdCu thin-film catalyst based on titanium nitride nanorod arrays with high catalytic performance for methanol electro-oxidation

Novel thin-film PtPdCu ternary electrocatalysts supported on titanium nitride nanorod arrays (TiN NRs) are fabricated. Unique 3D structures provide an effective way to analyse the influence of catalytic structure on methanol electrooxidation. The PtPdCu–TiN NRs show 1.81- and 2.09-fold greater mass activity than that of PtPd–TiN NRs, and a commercial PtC catalyst, respectively.

Fabrication of a highly dispersed Pd core @Pt shell electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction

ABSTRACT Core-shell nanostructures have been widely investigated to improve the electrocatalytic performance of platinum. However, organic precursors, surfactants or high temperature are usually necessary during the preparation procedure. Unfortunately, these requirements limit the application of these methods on a large scale. Herein, a Pd core @Pt shell nanostructure was fabricated through the reduction of K 2 PtCl 4 by dissociated hydrogen at room temperature without the assistance of either a surfactant or a high-boiling point solvent. The shell thickness of this nanostructure was successfully controlled by varying the amount of K 2 PtCl 4 ; core-shell nanoparticles with a shell thickness of 0.45, 0.75 and 0.90 nm were obtained, as determined by TEM. The remarkable crystallinity and epitaxial growth of the Pd core @Pt shell nanostructure were revealed by HRTEM and EDS. According to ICP and XPS, surface segregation of Pt was established. The impressive ORR performance was attributed to the weak adsorption strength of the OH ads species, which resulted from the electron transfer impact between the Pd core and Pt shell . The facile and clean preparation method can be used to prepare other core-shell nanostructures under a mild atmosphere.

One-pot facile synthesis of PtCu coated nanoporous gold with unique catalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction

A facile one-pot protocol to fabricate a PtCu coated nanoporous gold (NPG) catalyst (PtCu@NPG) is described here. PtCu@NPG prepared by this novel method not only preserves the NPG 3-D nanostructure but it also presents a unique catalytic activity and durability toward the oxygen reduction reaction.

Investigation of a Fe–N–C catalyst for sulfur dioxide electrooxidation

A Fe–N–C catalyst, synthesized with porous carbon BP2000, the nitrogen source imidazole and iron source FeCl3, is developed for SO2 electrooxidation through a series of thermal and pyrolytic disposing processes. The electrochemical measurements of linear sweep voltammograms (LSV) and cyclic voltammograms (CV) are applied to investigate the SO2 oxidation performance of the catalyst. The results show that the half-wave oxidation potential of Fe–N–C is 283.8 mV lower than that of BP2000 meanwhile the onset oxidation potential reduces 58 mV as well, implying there is a highly improved SO2 oxidation performance of the catalyst. The structural and physical characteristics of the Fe–N–C catalyst are examined by the methods of TEM, XPS, XRD and Raman spectroscopy. The characterization proves the formation of graphitic carbon, iron carbides, single-layer graphene and defects as well as the existence of FeN/Fe2N, pyridinic N and Fe–N components on the prepared Fe–N–C catalyst, which are supposed to have significant effects on the SO2 electrooxidation performance.

ArticleFabrication of a highly dispersed Pdcore@Ptshell electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction

ABSTRACT Core-shell nanostructures have been widely investigated to improve the electrocatalytic performance of platinum. However, organic precursors, surfactants or high temperature are usually necessary during the preparation procedure. Unfortunately, these requirements limit the application of these methods on a large scale. Herein, a Pd core @Pt shell nanostructure was fabricated through the reduction of K 2 PtCl 4 by dissociated hydrogen at room temperature without the assistance of either a surfactant or a high-boiling point solvent. The shell thickness of this nanostructure was successfully controlled by varying the amount of K 2 PtCl 4 ; core-shell nanoparticles with a shell thickness of 0.45, 0.75 and 0.90 nm were obtained, as determined by TEM. The remarkable crystallinity and epitaxial growth of the Pd core @Pt shell nanostructure were revealed by HRTEM and EDS. According to ICP and XPS, surface segregation of Pt was established. The impressive ORR performance was attributed to the weak adsorption strength of the OH ads species, which resulted from the electron transfer impact between the Pd core and Pt shell . The facile and clean preparation method can be used to prepare other core-shell nanostructures under a mild atmosphere.