Ultra-thin PtFe-nanowires as durable electrocatalysts for fuel cells.

Ultra-thin PtxFey-nanowires (PtxFey-NWs) with a diameter of 2-3 nm were successfully prepared through a solution-phase reduction method at Pt-Fe compositions from 1:1 to 2:1. The carbon supported PtxFey-NWs (PtxFey-NWs/C) demonstrated higher oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and better electrochemical durability than conventional Pt/C catalyst. After 1000 cycles of 0-1.3 V (versus RHE), the relative electrochemical surface area (ECSA) of Pt2Fe1-NW/C dropped down to 46%, which was two times better than Pt/C catalyst, and the mass activity at 0.85 V (versus RHE) for Pt1Fe1-NW/C was 39.9 mA mg [?] 1-Pt, which is twice that for Pt/C (18.6 mA mg [?] 1-Pt). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]