Platinum-Iron (Pt-Fe, Premetek) Alloy on Carbon Black as Electrocatalysts for Electrolyzer and Fuel Cell, 0.5 g/bottle, CEFCEPtFeC
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Alloying platinum with iron (Pt-Fe) is a strategic approach to overcome the limitations of pure Pt/C, particularly in fuel cell cathodes. While Pt/C is the "standard," Pt-Fe alloys offer a significant boost in activity and a reduction in the use of expensive noble metals.
The primary application for Pt-Fe is the cathode of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). (1) Enhanced Activity (ORR): Pt-Fe alloys are significantly more active for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) than pure Pt. The "ligand effect" and "strain effect" from the iron atoms modify the electronic structure of the platinum surface, weakening the binding of oxygen-containing intermediates (OH and O) and allowing the reaction to proceed faster. (2) Reduced Pt Loading: Because the mass activity of Pt-Fe is typically 3 to 4 times higher than Pt/C, manufacturers can achieve the same power output using significantly less platinum, which is the most expensive component of the stack. (3) Durability & Intermetallics: To prevent iron from "leaching" into the membrane (which causes degradation), modern Pt-Fe catalysts are often synthesized as ordered intermetallic structures ($L1_0$ phase). This atomic arrangement locks the iron in place, making the catalyst more stable than a random alloy.
In electrolyzers, Pt-Fe is less common but has specific niche uses: (1) Cathode (HER): While Pt/C is excellent for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER), researchers explore Pt-Fe to reduce costs. However, the performance gains over pure Pt for HER are generally less dramatic than for the ORR in fuel cells. (2) Stability Risk: The primary concern in electrolyzers is ion contamination. If iron ions (Fe^2+}/Fe^3+) leach out of the alloy, they can catalyze the formation of radicals (Fenton reactions) that attack and pinhole the expensive PEM membrane. For this reason, highly stable intermetallic Pt-Fe or "Pt-skin" structures (where a pure Pt layer protects the alloy core) are required.
| Part Number |
CEFCEPtFe11C20 |
CEFCEPtFe11C40 |
CEFCEPtFe31C40 |
| Electrocatalyst Composition |
Highly dispersed platinum-iron nanoparticles Vulcan XC-72 carbon black |
Highly dispersed platinum-iron nanoparticles Vulcan XC-72 carbon black |
Highly dispersed platinum-iron nanoparticles Vulcan XC-72 carbon black |
| Platinum-Iron Content |
20 wt% Pt-Fe (1:1 ratio) (15.5 wt% Pt, 4.5 wt% Fe), 80 wt% carbon black |
40 wt% Pt-Fe (1:1 ratio) (31.1 wt% Pt, 8.9 wt% Fe), 60 wt% carbon black |
40 wt% Pt-Fe (3:1 ratio) (36.5 wt% Pt, 3.5 wt% Fe), 60 wt% carbon black |
| Metal Surface Area |
~200 m2/g |
~75 m2/g |
~60 m2/g |
| Catalyst BET Surface Area: |
~200 m2/g |
~150 m2/g |
~150 m2/g |
| Metal Crystallite Size |
2-3 nm |
3-4 nm |
4-6 nm |
| Catalyst granule size D(100) |
≤ 75 µm |
≤ 75 µm |
≤ 75 µm |
| Impurities |
≤ 500 ppm |
≤ 500 ppm |
≤ 500 ppm |
| Package Size | 0.5 g/bottle | 0.5 g/bottle | 0.5 g/bottle |
Notes: Please try to store the Pt-Fe/C powder in a dry place.
References:
- F. Xiao, et al. Atomically dispersed Pt and Fe sites and Pt–Fe nanoparticles for durable proton exchange membrane fuel cells, Nature Catalysis 2022, 5, 503–512.
- J. N. Zhang, et al. Efficient electrocatalysis of cathodic oxygen reduction with Pt–Fe alloy catalyst in microbial fuel cell, Electrochemistry Communications, 2011, 13, 903-905.