Combining structurally ordered intermetallics with N-doped carbon confinement for efficient and anti-poisoning electrocatalysis

Abstract Exploring effective strategies for fabricating electrocatalysts toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of great importance for the fuel cells application. Herein, a facile strategy was developed to combine structurally ordered intermetallics with N-doped carbon confinement. Taking N-doped carbon encapsulated Pt-Fe ordered intermetallic nanoparticles (O-Pt-Fe@NC/C) as example, the in situ formed N-doped carbon shell not only benefits the nanoparticles distribute homogeneously on carbon support but also prevents the nanoparticles from agglomeration or detachment. As a result, the O-Pt-Fe@NC/C exhibits excellent ORR performance and stability as well as enhanced anti-poisoning capability towards CO, SOx and POx When assembled as cathode materials for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, a peak power density of 384 mW cm−2 is obtained for O-Pt-Fe@NC/C electrode at 160 °C. The demonstrated strategy provides a new insight into the preparation of highly durable and active carbon encapsulated Pt-based nanocatalysts for fuel cells.