One-pot synthesis of three-dimensional Pt nanodendrites with enhanced methanol oxidation reaction and oxygen reduction reaction activities.

The high cost of Pt-based catalysts impedes the practical large-scale commercial application of fuel cells. Controlling the morphology of Pt nanostructure is one of the most promising approaches to promote the electrocatalytical activity and stability toward methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, we report a facile method for the synthesis of Pt nanodendrites consisting a dense array of dendrites using KPtCl as metal resource, L-ascorbic acid as reducing agent and hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride as capping agent in aqueous solution at 96 °C for 30 min.

In situ-generated NiCo@NiS nanoparticle anchored s-doped carbon nanotubes as dual electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction.

Developing low cost and highly robust electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of great importance for the efficient conversion of sustainable energy sources. Herein, we report a facile pyrolysis strategy for the controllable synthesis of NiCo@NiS/S-CNTs with NiCo@NiS nanoparticles anchored on sulfur-doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The obtained NiCo@NiS/S-CNT electrocatalyst exhibits excellent dual-functional catalytic activities under an alkaline condition, an ORR performance with an onset potential of -30 mV, and a half-wave potential of -150 mV (versus Ag/AgCl) while the overpotential for the HER is -1.