Mn2O3-MO (MO = ZrO2, V2O5, WO3) supported PtNi nanoparticles: Designing stable and efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction and borohydride oxidation

PtNi nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesised by microwave irradiation technique and anchored onto three binary metal oxide (BMO) supports, namely Mn2O3-ZrO2, Mn2O3-V2O5 and Mn2O3-WO3, prepared by solid-state dispersion method. The BMO supports are characterised using SEM, FTIR, N-2-sorption and electrical conductivity measurements. XRD, XPS and TEM analysis confirm the formation of PtNi NPs on the BMO supports. Pt and Ni content over the support materials is set to 10 wt.% for each element. These electrocatalysts activity for oxygen reduction (ORR) and borohydride oxidation (BOR) reaction in alkaline media is assessed for the first time using voltammetric and chronoamperometric techniques. All three PtNi electrocatalysts revealed activity for ORR and BOR, with PtNi/(Mn2O3- ZrO2) exhibiting the highest current densities. The ORR onset potentials were observed to range from 0.84 to 0.97 V vs. RHE, with Tafel slopes ranging from 0.101 to 0.230 V dec(-1). BOR activation energies were found to range from 27 to 30 kJ mol(-1). Obtained results point out PtNi/(Mn2O3- ZrO2) as suitable electrocatalyst for fuel cell applications, particularly for BOR, with lower catalyst price due to partial replacement of the noble metal by a transition metal and improved stability achieved by introducing a binary metal oxide support.