High activity of a Pt decorated Ni/C nanocatalyst for hydrogen oxidation

The Pt decorated Ni/C nanocatalysts were prepared for hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) in fuel cell. By regulating the contents of Pt and Ni in the catalyst, both the composition and the structure affected the electrochemical catalytic characteristics of the Pt-Ni/C catalysts. When the Pt mass content was 3.1% percent and that of Ni was 13.9% percent, the Pt-Ni/C-3 catalyst exhibited a larger electrochemically active surface area and a higher exchange current density toward HOR than those of pure supported platinum sample. Our study demonstrates a feasible approach for designing the more efficient catalysts with lower content of noble metal for HOR in fuel cell.