Microstructure and size effects in Pt/C and Pt3Ni/C electrocatalysts synthesized in solutions based on binary organic solvents

Pt/C and Pt3Ni/C electrocatalysts that contained 12–27 wt.% Pt were prepared via the reduction of precursors in a binary solvent. The metal loading, average size of the Pt or Pt alloy nanoparticles, and electrochemical surface area (ECSA) of the obtained catalysts were found to be dependent on the choice of organic components and their relative amounts in the starting solution. Downsizing the nanoparticles was shown to favor the agglomeration processes that counterbalance the expected increase in the electrochemical surface area. This adverse effect of downsizing can be reduced through selection of the optimum binary solvent composition.

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► Pt/C and Pt3Ni/C catalysts synthesized in solutions based on two-component organic solvents.
► An electrochemical surface area of catalysts does not correlate with nanoparticle sizes.
► A downsizing the Pt and Pt–Ni alloy nanoparticles favors agglomeration processes.
► Optimal composition of binary solvent allows synthesizing optimal microstructure.