The Fe-Ti binary system was re-assessed using the CALPHAD method in order to improve the capability of being extrapolated to a ternary or higher-order system. Compared with previous assessments, the main focus was put...The Fe-Ti binary system was re-assessed using the CALPHAD method in order to improve the capability of being extrapolated to a ternary or higher-order system. Compared with previous assessments, the main focus was put on the thermodynamic description of the two intermetallic compounds Fe2Ti and FeTi. The C14_Laves phase Fe2Ti was described by the two-sublattice model, which is widely used at present. By checking the homogeneity range on the boundary of the ternary systems involving the binary, the phase boundary of this compound was further confirmed. The FeTi phase with a BCC_B2 crystal structure was treated as the ordered phase of the BCC_A2 phase and a unified Gibbs energy function was used to describe both the ordered and disordered phases. Reproduction of the specific heat capacities of these compounds was another aspect paid particular attention to. Comprehensive comparisons of the calculated and experimental results regarding the phase diagram and thermodynamic properties show a good agreement between them and prove the validity of the present thermodynamic description.展开更多
The development of cost-effective oxygen reduction reaction （ORR） catalysts with a high methanol tolerance and enhanced durability is highly desirable for direct methanol fuel cells. This work focuses on the convers...The development of cost-effective oxygen reduction reaction （ORR） catalysts with a high methanol tolerance and enhanced durability is highly desirable for direct methanol fuel cells. This work focuses on the conversion of PtNi nanoparticles from a disordered solid solution to an ordered intermetallic compound. Here the effect of this conversion on ORR activity, durability, and methanol tolerance are characterized. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy results confirm the formation of ordered PtNi intermetallic nanoparticles with high dispersion and a mean particle size of about 7.6 nm. The PtNi intermetallic nanoparticles exhibited enhanced mass and specific activities toward the methanol-tolerant ORR in pure and methanol-containing electrolytes. The specific activity of the ORR at 0.85 V on the PtNi intermetallic nanoparticles is almost 6 times greater than on commercial Pt/C and 3 times greater than on disordered PtNi alloy. Durability tests indicated a minimal loss of ORR activity for PtNi intermetallic nanoparticles after 5,000 potential cycles, whereas the ORR activity decreased by 28% for disordered PtNi alloy. The enhanced methanoltolerant ORR activity and durability may be attributed to the structural and compositional stabilities of the ordered PtNi intermetallic nanoparticles compared relative to the stabilities of the disordered PtNi alloy, strongly suggesting that the PtNi intermetallic nanoparticles may serve as highly active and durable methanol-tolerant ORR electrocatalysts for practical applications.展开更多
基金Project (IP08-092009) supported by Sino Swiss Science and Technology Cooperation (SSSTC)Project (50971136) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject (1343-71134001013) supported by the Scholarship Award for Excellent Doctoral Student granted by Ministry of Education of China
文摘The Fe-Ti binary system was re-assessed using the CALPHAD method in order to improve the capability of being extrapolated to a ternary or higher-order system. Compared with previous assessments, the main focus was put on the thermodynamic description of the two intermetallic compounds Fe2Ti and FeTi. The C14_Laves phase Fe2Ti was described by the two-sublattice model, which is widely used at present. By checking the homogeneity range on the boundary of the ternary systems involving the binary, the phase boundary of this compound was further confirmed. The FeTi phase with a BCC_B2 crystal structure was treated as the ordered phase of the BCC_A2 phase and a unified Gibbs energy function was used to describe both the ordered and disordered phases. Reproduction of the specific heat capacities of these compounds was another aspect paid particular attention to. Comprehensive comparisons of the calculated and experimental results regarding the phase diagram and thermodynamic properties show a good agreement between them and prove the validity of the present thermodynamic description.
文摘The development of cost-effective oxygen reduction reaction （ORR） catalysts with a high methanol tolerance and enhanced durability is highly desirable for direct methanol fuel cells. This work focuses on the conversion of PtNi nanoparticles from a disordered solid solution to an ordered intermetallic compound. Here the effect of this conversion on ORR activity, durability, and methanol tolerance are characterized. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy results confirm the formation of ordered PtNi intermetallic nanoparticles with high dispersion and a mean particle size of about 7.6 nm. The PtNi intermetallic nanoparticles exhibited enhanced mass and specific activities toward the methanol-tolerant ORR in pure and methanol-containing electrolytes. The specific activity of the ORR at 0.85 V on the PtNi intermetallic nanoparticles is almost 6 times greater than on commercial Pt/C and 3 times greater than on disordered PtNi alloy. Durability tests indicated a minimal loss of ORR activity for PtNi intermetallic nanoparticles after 5,000 potential cycles, whereas the ORR activity decreased by 28% for disordered PtNi alloy. The enhanced methanoltolerant ORR activity and durability may be attributed to the structural and compositional stabilities of the ordered PtNi intermetallic nanoparticles compared relative to the stabilities of the disordered PtNi alloy, strongly suggesting that the PtNi intermetallic nanoparticles may serve as highly active and durable methanol-tolerant ORR electrocatalysts for practical applications.
