Enhancing electron interaction between Pt and support for superior electrochemical performance through atomic layer deposition of tungsten oxide

Zhongxin Song; Xia Zhou; Lidan Sun; Qingfeng Zhang; Yongliang Li; Xiangzhong Ren; Hong Zhang; Lei Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2023.10.120

Enhancing electron interaction between Pt and support for superior electrochemical performance through atomic layer deposition of tungsten oxide

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2024 Jan 15;654(Pt B):1272-1280. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.10.120. Epub 2023 Oct 27.

Authors

Zhongxin Song¹, Xia Zhou², Lidan Sun¹, Qingfeng Zhang¹, Yongliang Li¹, Xiangzhong Ren¹, Hong Zhang³, Lei Zhang⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, PR China.
² School of Materials and Energy, Electron Microscopy Centre, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
³ School of Materials and Energy, Electron Microscopy Centre, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China. Electronic address: hongzhang@lzu.edu.cn.
⁴ College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, PR China. Electronic address: lei.zhang@szu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37907006
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.10.120

Abstract

The stabilization of platinum (Pt) catalysts through strong metal-support interactions is crucial for their successful implementation in fuel cell applications. Tungsten oxide (WO₃) has demonstrated excellent CO tolerance and has been recognized as a promising substrate for anchoring and stabilizing Pt nanoparticles (NPs). However, the limited specific surface area of conventional tungsten oxide restricts its effectiveness in dispersing noble metal NPs. In this study, we present a pioneering approach by employing atomic layer deposition (ALD) to create a WO₃ interlayer between Pt NPs and a carbon substrate. Using nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNT) as the foundation, WO₃ nanoparticles (2-5 nm) were selectively synthesized, followed by the subsequent deposition of Pt NPs using a bottom-up approach. The Pt-WO₃-NCNT catalyst, with a WO₃ bridge layer effectively inserted between the active site and carbon support, has displayed a notable augmentation in electrocatalytic activity and notable stability when compared to commercial Pt catalysts in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The detailed microstructure and the enhanced electrochemical reaction mechanism of Pt-WO₃-NCNT catalyst has been investigated by X-ray adsorption spectrum and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. This work presents an innovative approach for enhancing the stability of Pt catalysts through the utilization of the ALD technique.

Keywords: Atomic layer deposition; Oxygen reduction reaction; Platinum; Tungsten oxide; X-ray adsorption spectrum.