Carbon material loaded with platinum and iron oxide nanoparticles as a low-platinum catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

Low cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) efficiency is one of the important factors limiting the hydrogen fuel cells. Platinum can effectively reduce the ORR activation energy and improve the reaction rate; However, platinum's low reserves, versatility, and high price still limit its use in commercial, large-scale applications. It is very important to reduce the amount of Pt and improve the utilization rate and the stability of Pt-based catalyst. Here, an ultra-low Pt content catalyst Pt&Fe2O3/PM has been synthesized. The Pt content of the catalyst is only 4 wt%, and its nanoparticles are about 3 nm. Pt&Fe2O3/PM exhibit excellent ORR catalytic performance and longevity in acidic electrolyte. The ORR mechanism on Pt&Fe2O3/PM involves a direct four-electron path. The mass activity and specific activity of Pt&Fe2O3/PM is 4.8 and 10.3 times than that of commercial Pt/C, respectively. Furthermore, the catalyst's synthesis method is straightforward and amenable to scaling up, offering significant guidance for the creation of low-Pt catalysts.