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

分级结构Pt基纳米催化剂是目前研究的热点，尤其是其在质子交换膜燃料电池中的应用更是氧还原反应（ORR）的唯一工业选择。在基本结构-功能关系知识的基础上，多结构和多功能的合理设计有可能提供具有增强性能和高原子利用效率的下一代工业ORR催化剂，以解决高成本问题。分级自组装为规模化制备具有分级微纳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，增强纳米单元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。本课题的主要目标如下：第一，开发新的分级组装方法，制备纳米尺度和微米尺度的分级多孔结构Pt基金属。接下来，探索新的分层组装方法，界面稳定性，和ORR催化的机制将解决基于知识的合成和应用的分层结构的体系结构。为了进一步提高分级金属基催化剂的ORR活性和耐久性，需要对稳定性进行研究。最后，探索的结构功能关系是必不可少的，以提高综合和应用的机制，为新的层次结构的架构。德方先进的纳米金属和中方分级结构的整合将为分级金属催化剂的成功奠定坚实的基础。按照“合成-机理-应用”的研究思路，开展两个方面的研究工作：1）纳米级铂基纳米金属的分级结构与ORR性能提升（德方课题）; 2）纳米/微米级铂基纳米金属的分级结构与ORR性能提升（中方课题）。该项目旨在进一步开发新的化学方法，以控制纳米/微米结构和分级组装的Pt基纳米金属及其在ORR电催化中的应用。该项目的独创性和新奇涉及到新的层次结构控制，稳定性增强和ORR性能提升的层次组装方法。

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.