Hierarchical Pt-based Metals (HPMs): Hierarchies Controlling, Stability Enhancing and ORR-Performance Promoting

层次化结构的铂基纳米催化剂是目前研究的热点，尤其是在PEM燃料电池中作为氧还原反应(ORR)的唯一工业选择。多结构、多功能的合理设计，以基本的结构-功能关系为基础，有可能提供性能更好、原子利用率更高的下一代工业ORR催化剂，以解决高成本问题。层次化自组装为制备具有层次化微/纳米结构的各种纳米金属系综提供了一种简单、低成本的方法。作为一个挑战，增强纳米粒子的界面相互作用被认为是自组装材料实际应用的关键因素。我们项目的目标如下：首先，将开发新的分级组装，以制备纳米级和微米级的分级多孔结构的铂基金属。接下来，将探讨新的层次化组装方法、界面稳定性和ORR催化的机制，以实现基于知识的层次化结构体系结构的综合和应用。为了进一步提高分级金属基催化剂的ORR活性和耐久性，需要对其稳定性进行研究。最后，对结构-功能关系的探索是必要的，以改进综合和应用新的层次化结构体系的机制。德方先进的纳米金属与中方的层次化结构相结合，将为层次化金属催化剂的成功奠定坚实的基础。按照合成-机理-应用的研究路线，本项目将开展两个方面的工作：1)纳米级分级铂纳米材料及ORR性能提升(德方任务)；2)纳米/微米级铂基纳米金属及ORR性能提升(中方任务)。该项目旨在进一步开发新的化学方法来控制分级组装的铂基纳米金属的纳/微结构和明确的形貌及其在ORR电催化中的应用。该项目的独创性和新颖性涉及到新的层次组装方法，以控制层次结构、增强稳定性和提高ORR性能。

Hierarchical structured Pt-based nanocatalysts are a hot research topic, especially their application in PEM fuel cell as the only industrial choice for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The rational design of multiple-structure and multiple-function, underpinned by knowledge of fundamental structure-function relations, has the potential to deliver next-generation industrial ORR catalysts with enhanced performance and high atom-utilization-efficiency for covering the high-cost problem. Hierarchical self-assembly provides a simple and low-cost method for scale-up preparation of ensembles of various nanometal with hierarchical micro/nano structure. As a challenge, enhancement of the interface interaction of nanounits is considered as the key factor for the practical application of self-assembly materials. The targets of our project are as the following: Firstly, new hierarchical assembly will be developed for the preparation of hierarchically porous structured Pt-based metals at the nanoscale and microscale. Next, the exploration of the mechanism of new hierarchical assembly methods, interface stability, and ORR-catalysis will be addressed for a knowledge-based synthesis and application of hierarchical structured architectures. The investigation of stability is required for further improvement of ORR activity and durability of hierarchical metal-based catalyst. Finally, an exploration of the structure-function relation is essential, in order to improve the synthesis and to apply the mechanism for novel hierarchical structured architectures. The integration of advanced nanometals by the German side and hierarchical structures by the Chinese side would be a solid basis for success in hierarchical metal catalysts. Following the research route of synthesis-mechanism-application, two aspects of the project will be carried out as follows: 1) Hierarchical Pt nanometals at nanoscale and ORR performance promotion (task of German side); 2) Hierarchical Pt-based nanometals at nano/microscale and ORR performance promotion (task of Chinese side). The project aims at the further development of new chemical methods to control nano/micro-structures and well-defined morphologies of hierarchically assembled Pt-based nanometals and their applications in ORR electrocatalysis. The originality and novelty of this project involve new hierarchical assembly approaches to hierarchies controlling, stability enhancing and ORR-performance promoting.