Promoting effects of La for improved oxygen reduction activity and high stability of Pt on Pt-La alloy electrodes

Abstract

The design of polymer electrolyte fuel cell electrocatalysts depends on two equally important fundamental principles: the optimization of electrocatalytic activities as well as the long-term stability under operating conditions (e.g., pH < 1 and E > 0.8 V). Pt-based alloys with transition metals (i.e., Pt-La) address both of these key issues. The oxygen reduction kinetics depends on the alloy composition which, in turn, is related to the d-band center position. The stability of the oxygen reduction reaction is predictable by correlation of the d-band fillings and vacancies of Pt-M (M = Ti, Fe, Zr and La).