Self-deposition of Pt nanocrystals on Mn₃O₄ coated carbon nanotubes for enhanced oxygen reduction electrocatalysis

Yu-Ping Xiao, Wen-Jie Jiang, Shuo Wan, Xing Zhang, Jin-Song Hu, Zi-Dong Wei and Li-Jun Wan

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013, 1, 7463-7468, DOI: 10.1039/C3TA10298J

Abstract  (click image for pdf file)

Developing catalysts with high electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has recently attracted much attention because the sluggish ORR limits the performance and commercialization of current PEMFCs and metal–air batteries as well. Herein, a facile approach was reported to synthesize Mn₃O₄ nanoparticle coated carbon nanotubes (Mn₃O₄/CNTs) and self-deposit well-dispersed Pt nanocrystals on Mn₃O₄/CNTs to obtain Pt/Mn₃O₄/CNTs hybrid catalysts via in situ reduction of support matrix with no need of any capping agent and additional reducing agent. As a result of good dispersion of uncapped Pt nanocrystals, interconnected carbon nanotube conductive network, and possible synergetic co-catalytic effect from heterojunction interfaces of Pt nanocrystals and Mn₃O₄, the as-prepared Pt/Mn₃O₄/CNTs hybrid catalysts demonstrated much enhanced electrocatalytic activity for ORR. The reported strategy may inspire the development of new high efficient hybrid electrocatalysts in a cost-effective way with the potential to harness the metal/oxide interaction to improve the performance of catalysts.