Exceptional Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity and Durability of Platinum-Nickel Nanowires Through Synthesis and Post-Treatment Optimization

For the first time, extended nanostructured catalysts are demonstrated with both high specific activity (>6000 μA cm_Pt^-2 at 0.9 V) and high surface areas (>90 m² g_Pt^-1). Platinum-nickel (Pt - Ni) nanowires, synthesized by galvanic displacement, have previously produced surface areas in excess of 90 m² g_Pt^-1, a significant breakthrough in and of itself for extended surface catalysts. Unfortunately, these materials were limited in terms of their specific activity and durability upon exposure to relevant electrochemical test conditions. Through a series of optimized postsynthesis steps, significant improvements were made to the activity (3-fold increase in specific activity), durability (21% mass activity loss reduced to 3%), and Ni leaching (reduced from 7 to 0.3%) of the Pt - Ni nanowires. These materials show more than a 10-fold improvement in mass activity compared to that of traditional carbon-supported Pt nanoparticle catalysts and offer significant promise as a new class of electrocatalysts in fuel cell applications.