High-Performance Core-Shell Catalyst with Nitride Nanoparticles as a Core: Well-Defined Titanium Copper Nitride Coated with an Atomic Pt Layer for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

A class of core shell structured low-platinum catalysts with well-dispersed inexpensive titanium copper nitride nanoparticles as cores and atomic platinum layers as shells exhibiting high activity and stability for the oxygen reduction reaction is successfully developed. Using nitrided carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) as the support greatly improved the morphology and dispersion of the nitride nanoparticles, resulting in significant enhancement of the performance of the catalyst. The optimized catalyst, Ti0.9Cu0.1N@Pt/NCNTs, has a Pt mass activity 5 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C, comparable to that of core shell catalysts with precious metal nanoparticles as the core, and much higher than that the latter if we take into account the mass activity of all platinum group metals. Furthermore, only a minimal loss of activity can be observed after 10000 potential cycles, demonstrating the catalyst's high stability. Atomic-scale elemental mapping confirmed that the core shell structure of the catalyst remained intact after durability testing. The approach may open a pathway for the design and preparation of high-performance inexpensive core shell catalysts for a wide range of applications in energy conversion processes.