(745c) Engineering Core-Shell Nanoparticles of Noble Metals on Transition Metal Carbides As Next-Generation Catalysts in Energy Applications
AIChE Annual Meeting
2016
2016 AIChE Annual Meeting
Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Division
Rational Catalyst Design I: Catalysts for Fuel Cells and CO2 Reduction
Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 3:55pm to 4:15pm
Exceptional catalytic performance of the core-shell catalysts was demonstrated in a number of thermo- and electrocatalytic reactions. Carbon-supported tungsten carbide nanoparticles coated with Pt or bimetallic PtRu monolayers exhibited enhanced resistance to sintering and CO poisoning, achieving an order of magnitude increase in specific activity over commercial catalysts for methanol electrooxidation after 10,000 cycles. Moreover, sub-monolayer Pt coverages were able to activate tungsten carbide nanoparticles for hydrogen evolution at low overpotentials and impart hydrogen oxidation activity. The developed catalysts also demonstrated remarkable sinter resistance, and the core-shell structure remained stable at high temperatures under various atmospheres. Collectively, these core-shell catalysts present a novel platform to drastically enhance utilization of noble metals while substantially enhancing their reactivity and stability.