Stabilizing Fe in Intermetallic L10-PtAuFe Nanoparticles with Strong Au-Fe Bond to Boost Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity and Durability

The intrinsic reactivity of PtM alloys during the catalysis of oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) under acidic conditions is deactivated by the unavoidable leaching of cocatalyst M. Herein, we propose an unprecedented "Au-stabilized strategy" to stabilize the Fe atoms in L10-PtAuFe via a strong Au-Fe bond. Simultaneously, the introduction of Au atoms regulates the Pt atomic electronic structure and increases resistance to Pt atomic oxidation, which is beneficial to further boost ORR activity and stability. As a result, the as-obtained L10-PtAuFe exhibits minimal loss of mass activity after accelerated durability tests and is far superior to L10-PtFe and commercial Pt/C. In addition, L10-PtAuFe shows fantastic ORR activity, with a 7.3-fold improvement in mass activity and a 4.5-fold increase in specific activity compared to that of commercial Pt/C. This novel Au-stabilized strategy provides a new avenue to stabilize the M atoms in L10-PtM alloys and further enhance their ORR activity and stability.