Self‐Assembled Dendritic Pt Nanostructure with High‐Index Facets as Highly Active and Durable Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction

The durability issues of Pt catalyst should be resolved for the commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Nanocrystal structures with high‐index facets have been recently explored to solve the critical durability problem of fuel cell catalysts as Pt catalysts with high‐index facets can preserve the ordered surfaces without change of the original structures. However, it is very difficult to develop effective and practical synthetic methods for Pt‐based nanostructures with high‐index facets. The current study describes a simple one‐pot synthesis of self‐assembled dendritic Pt nanostructures with electrochemically active and stable high‐index facets. Pt nanodendrites exhibited 2 times higher ORR activity and superior durability (only 3.0 % activity loss after 10 000 potential cycles) than a commercial Pt/C. The enhanced catalytic performance was elucidated by the formation of well‐organized dendritic structures with plenty of reactive interfaces among 5 nm‐sized Pt particles and the coexistence of low‐ and high‐index facets on the particles. Special facets: We propose a facile synthesis of highly active and durable Pt nanodendrites for the oxygen reduction reaction and systematically study the formation mechanism of the dendritic nanostructure. The enhanced activity and durability are attributed to the formation of well‐organized dendritic structures with plenty of reactive interfaces among small Pt nanoparticles and the coexistence of low‐ and high‐index surfaces.