Electrochemical Stability of Rhodium–Platinum Core–Shell Nanoparticles: An Identical Location Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Study
Miquel Vega‐Paredes, Raquel Aymerich‐Armengol, Daniel Arenas Esteban, Sara Martí‐Sánchez, Sara Bals, Christina Scheu, Alba Garzón Manjón
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Rhodium–platinum core–shell nanoparticles on a carbon support (Rh@Pt/C NPs) are promising candidates as anode catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. However, their electrochemical stability needs to be further explored for successful application in commercial fuel cells. Here we employ identical location scanning transmission electron microscopy to track the morphological and compositional changes of Rh@Pt/C NPs during potential cycling (10 000 cycles, 0.06–0.8 V RHE, 0.5 H 2 SO 4 ) down to the atomic level, which are then used for understanding the current evolution occurring during the potential cycles. Our results reveal a high stability of the Rh@Pt/C system and point toward particle detachment from the carbon support as the main degradation mechanism.