| AVS 65th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Plasma Science and Technology Division | Tuesday Sessions |
| Session PS+EM+NS+SS-TuA |
| Session: | Plasma Processing of Challenging Materials - II |
| Presenter: | Joffrey Baneton, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium |
| Authors: | J. Baneton, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium J. Mertens, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium M. Smiljanic, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium S. Cauchies, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium T. Segato, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium Y. Busby, Université de Namur, Belgium G. Caldarella, Université de Liège, Belgium V. Debaille, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium S. Godet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium J.-J. Pireaux, Université de Namur, Belgium N. Job, Université de Liège, Belgium M.J. Gordon, University of California at Santa Barbara R.M. Sankaran, Case Western Reserve University F. Reniers, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Developing new technologies to produce energy while respecting the environment is one of the important challenges in materials science. One of the possible routes is the use of hydrogen fuel cells. Unfortunately, some limitations remain such as the electrocatalysis of the reduction of dioxygen which requires a rare and expensive metal: platinum [1]. Therefore, minimizing its amount at the cathode while maximizing its accessibility, electroactivity and stability constitutes one of the main goal of current research. An interesting way consists in the synthesis of platinum-based alloys. Indeed, it is well known in the literature that combining two metals leads to the production of durable materials with higher activity [2].
Different routes can lead to the formation of bimetallic nanostructures including wet-chemistry, ultrasound processes or thermal evaporation. In this catalogue of methods, atmospheric-pressure plasma techniques are very attractive due to their versatility, rapidity and ease of use. In the present research, two different kinds of reactors, a microplasma device [3] and radio-frequency plasma torch [4], have been used to study the synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles from acetylacetonate precursors. A complete chemical and morphological characterization is provided thanks to the combined use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.
Different experimental parameters can play a crucial role is the reduction process of the organometallic precursors. For example, concerning the microplasma system, the initial concentrations have a direct influence on the size distribution and agglomeration while, concerning the RF plasma torch treatment, the nature of the plasma gas mixture can limit the production of nanoparticles or favor their anchoring at the surface of a carbon support [5]. After optimization of the processes, electrochemical measurements were conducted to evaluate their activity, stability and performances as catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells.
The authors would like to thank the Walloon Region (HYLIFE project n°1410135, Energinsere program) for the financial support.
[1] F. Maillard et al. In: Carbon materials for catalysis (2009), 429-480.
[2] Z. Li et al. Int. J. of Hydrogen Energy (2012), 37, 14152–14160.
[3] C. De Vos et al. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. (2017), 50, 105206.
[4] D. Merche et al. Plasma Process. Polym. (2016), 13, 91–104.
[5] A. Felten et al. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. (2007), 40, 7379.