Highly Durable PtNi Alloy on Sb‐Doped SnO2 for Oxygen Reduction Reaction with Strong Metal‐Support Interaction

Abstract

AbstractCarbon‐supported Pt is currently used as catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells but is handicapped by carbon corrosion at high potential. Herein, a stable PtNi/SnO2 interface structure has been designed and achieved by a two‐step solvothermal method. The robust and conductive Sb‐doped SnO2 supports provide sufficient surfaces to confine PtNi alloy. Moreover, PtNi/Sb0.11SnO2 presents a more strongly coupled Pt‐SnO2 interface with lattice overlap of Pt (111) and SnO2 (110), together with enhanced electron transfer from SnO2 to Pt. Therefore, PtNi/Sb0.11SnO2 exhibits a high catalytic activity for ORR with a half‐wave potential of 0.860 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and a mass activity of 166.2 mA mgPt−1@0.9 V in 0.1 M HClO4 electrolyte. Importantly, accelerated degradation testing (ADT) further identify the inhibition of support corrosion and agglomeration of Pt‐based active nanoparticles in PtNi/Sb0.11SnO2. This work highlights the significant importance of modulating metal‐support interactions for improving the catalytic activity and durability of electrocatalysts.