Carbon-Supported Pt-Based Alloy Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells: Particle Size, Shape, and Composition Manipulation and Their Impact to Activity

Abstract

A scientific review addresses the current development of size-dependent, shape-selected, and composition-controlled carbon-supported Pt-alloy electrocatalysts for enhancing electrochemical catalytic performance in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). It starts with an overview of carbon support in carbon-supported Pt-alloy electrocatalysts and proceeds to the theoretical studies on the impact of Pt-alloy particle size, shape, and composition, and the experimental research on the particle size, shape, and composition of Pt-alloy catalysts. It particularly emphasizes on strategies to control particle size, shape, composition, and their impacts on catalyst activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction.