Electrochemical and Microstructural Investigations of PtFe Nanocompounds Synthesized by Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Jet.

A nitrogen DC-pulse atmosphere pressure plasma jet (APPJ) is used to convert ferric nitrate (Fe(NO3)3) and chloroplatinic ac (H₂PtCl₆) mixed liquid precursor films into PtFe nanocompounds on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. Scanning transmi sion electron microscopy indicates nanoparticles distributed on a thin continuous layer on the FTO substrate. The APPJ-synthesize PtFe nanocompounds contain a mixture of crystalline and amorphous phases. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that mo Pt is in the metallic phase and most Fe, in the oxidized phase. A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with only 5-s APPJ-processe PtFe counter electrode (CE) shows significantly improved efficiency. This suggests the rapid processing capability of the nitroge DC-pulse APPJ. A PtFe prepared with higher H₂PtCl₆/Fe(NO₃)₃ volume ratio shows better catalytic performance, as confirme by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Tafel experiments. The DSSC with APPJ-processed PtFe C shows comparable efficiency to that of 15-min furnace-calcined Pt CE, suggesting that the APPJ processed PtFe requires less Pt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]