SAD–GLAD Pt–Ni@Ni Nanorods as Highly Active Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalysts

Vertically aligned catalysts comprised of platinum–nickel thin films on nickel nanorods (designated as Pt–Ni@Ni-NR) with varying ratios of Pt to Ni in the thin film were prepared by magnetron sputtering and evaluated for their oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. A glancing angle deposition (GLAD) technique was used to fabricate the Ni nanorods (NRs) and a small angle deposition technique for growth of a thin conformal coating of Pt–Ni on the Ni-NRs. The Pt–Ni@Ni-NR structures were deposited on glassy carbon for evaluation of their ORR activity in an aqueous acidic electrolyte using the rotating disk electrode technique. The Pt–Ni@Ni-NR catalysts showed superior area-specific and mass activities for ORR compared to those of Pt–Ni alloy nanorod catalysts prepared using the GLAD technique and compared to those of conventional large-surface area Pt and Pt–Ni alloy nanoparticle catalysts.