In this work, nanoscale bimetallic PtNi, PtCo, PtCu catalysts on carbon Vulcan XC72R as supports were synthesized by reduction method under ultrasonic irradiation. The morphology, structure and specific area of synthesized materials were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of PtM/C was investigated by CV and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) under simulated fuel cell working conditions. | Electrochemical activity of PtM (M=Co, Cu, Ni) catalysts supported on carbon vulcan for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology 56 (2A) (2018) 81-88 ELECTROCHEMICAL ACTIVITY OF PtM (M=Co, Cu, Ni) CATALYSTS SUPPORTED ON CARBON VULCAN FOR OXYGEN REDUCTION REACTION (ORR) IN FUEL CELLS Vu Thi Hong Phuong1,*, Tran Van Man2, Le My Loan Phung2 1 Faculty of Chemical Engineering, University of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, 80 Truong Cong Dinh St., Ward 3, Vung Tau City, Viet Nam 2 Applied Physical Chemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Chemistry VNUHCM - University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu St., Ward 4, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam * Email: fashionhandp@ Received: 10 March 2018; accepted for publication: 14 May 2018 ABSTRACT PEMFC - proton exchange membrane fuel cell is electrochemical devices producing electricity and heat from reaction between a fuel (often hydrogen) and oxygen. Therefore, energy production is generally clean and effective without burning the fuel like the tradition way in combustion engines. The obstacles encountered fuel cell commercialization are mainly due to expensive catalyst materials (Platinum) and long-term instability performance. For this reason, numerous investigations have been undertaken with the goal of developing low-cost, efficient electrocatalysts that can be used as alternatives to Pt. In this paper, a two-step procedure at room temperature was applied to prepare a bimetallic Pt-M(M = metal) supported carbon Vulcan. First, the chemical reduction of M metal ions by sodium borohydride in the presence of carbon powder is performed. Second, the partial galvanic replacement of M particle layers by Pt is achieved upon immersion in a chloroplatinate solution. The major size of synthesized metallic particles was around 2-3 nm. From the slope of Koutecky-Levich plot for ORR using PtM/C materials as catalysts it was found that the .
