Nano-scale metal alloys (nano alloys) have great potential in electrocatalysis. The interaction between the different components in the nanoalloy may change the electronic configuration of the active metal and produce a synergistic effect, thereby improving its activity, durability and selectivity in the electrocatalytic reaction.
Alloying with cheap transition metals is an effective way to reduce the use of relatively expensive metals (such as Pt and Pd). Nanoalloys composed of miscible metals can usually be synthesized and customized by wet chemical methods. However, due to the large differences in chemical and physical properties, the engineering design of nanoalloys (called high-entropy nanoalloys) composed of various immiscible metals or dissimilar elements is still challenging.
Recently, Professor MansooChoi of Seoul National University (SNU) and Professor Yang Jun of the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed an unconventional nano-alloy called "Sparking Mashup" for electrocatalytic applications resolve resolution. Using this technology, they prepared 55 different alloy nanoparticles with an average particle size of 5nm, including miscible metals, immiscible metals, and high-entropy nano-alloys, successfully breaking through the wet chemical method in immiscible metals and high-entropy nano-alloys. The limitations in synthesis, the composition and size of the obtained nanoalloys can also be controlled by changing the experimental conditions/parameters.
Thanks to their tiny size, electronic interaction between different components and clean surface, the prepared Pt/Pd nanoalloys exhibit excellent performance in the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol and ethanol. The next goal of the research is to optimize the Pt/Pd-containing nano-alloy to further improve its performance in catalyzing electrochemical reactions in direct alcohol fuel cells.
Professor Yang said: "In this way, we hope to create cost-effective, highly active and durable electrocatalysts for various renewable energy technologies and other fields."