Controlled Growth of Platinum Nanoparticles during Electrodeposition using Halide Ion Containing Additives

Optimizing platinum (Pt) utilization is a necessary step towards developing affordable electrocatalysts for fuel cells and related technologies. Electrodeposition scalable approach to preparing Pt nanoparticles (NPs). Herein, Cl − Br ions are used in excess as additives during the electrodeposition of NPs influence nucleation growth processes means tuning particle morphology their electrocatalytic activity. Adding NaCl formed larger particles with urchin-like morphologies while adding NaBr produced smaller, more uniform that were evenly dispersed across substrate. Mixtures these two halide ion species improved surface coverage size distribution NPs. Particle was further decreased, increased by combining addition using higher applied potential initiate “nucleation” followed lower promote “growth.” Mass activity oxygen reduction reaction highest electrodeposited presence . The cetyltrimethylammonium chloride bromide small an even mass activity, which attributed formation porous nanostructures. This study demonstrates techniques improve