Ordered PtFeIr Intermetallic Nanowires Prepared through a Silica-Protection Strategy for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Developing efficient and stable Pt-based oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts is a way to promote the large-scale application of fuel cells. Pt-based alloy nanowires are promising ORR catalysts, but their application is hampered by activity loss caused by structural destruction during long-term cycling. Herein, the preparation of ordered PtFeIr intermetallic nanowire catalysts with an average diameter of 2.6 nm and face-centered tetragonal structure (fct-PtFeIr/C) is reported. A silica-protected strategy prevents the deformation of PtFeIr nanowires during the phase transition at high temperature. The as-prepared fct-PtFeIr/C exhibited superior mass activity for ORR (2.03 A mg(Pt)(-1)) than disordered PtFeIr nanowires with face-centered cubic structure (1.11 A mg(Pt)(-1)) and commercial Pt/C (0.21 A mg(Pt)(-1)). Importantly, the structure and electrochemical performance of fct-PtFeIr/C were maintained after stability tests, showing the advantages of the ordered structure.