Kim, Han Young Jang, Jeong Eun Choi, Siheon Jang, Injoon Yoo, Sung Jong 2025-06-23T02:30:08Z 2025-06-23T02:30:08Z 2025-06-23 2025-10 0002-7820 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/152648 In this work, we employ physical vapor deposition (PVD) to synthesize PtCu nanoparticles on carbon supports (PtCu/C) with varied Cu contents, followed by acid-leaching to induce porosity and optimize catalyst structure. Characterization by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals that despite initial differences in Pt:Cu ratios, all post-leaching catalysts converge to an approximately 1:1 composition. Notably, catalysts initially containing higher Cu levels present a greater fraction of metallic Pt (Pt0) after leaching, strongly enhancing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. The best-performing PtCu/C achieves mass and specific activities approximately four and nine times higher, respectively, than commercial Pt/C. These findings highlight the importance of controlling initial Cu content and acid leaching conditions to optimize surface chemistry, porosity, and Pt oxidation states, ultimately maximizing ORR kinetics. By reducing noble metal usage while boosting performance, PVD-synthesized PtCu catalysts offer a promising route toward cost-effective, high-performance cathodes for next-generation PEMFCs. This work underscores the potential of PVD as a scalable, environmentally benign alternative to wet-chemical methods for producing advanced alloy catalysts and provides critical insights into the relationship between acid-leaching, Pt degrees fraction, and enhanced ORR activity. The approach can be extended to other alloy systems for fuel cell applications. English American Ceramic Society Simultaneous immobilization of physically vaporized platinum alloy atoms for oxygen reduction electrocatalysis Article 10.1111/jace.70016 1 Journal of the American Ceramic Society, v.108, no.10 Journal of the American Ceramic Society 108 10 Y scie scopus 001507563200001 2-s2.0-105007869070 Materials Science, Ceramics Materials Science Article LATTICE-STRAIN PEM FUEL-CELL PT-CO CATALYSTS NANOPARTICLES PERFORMANCE SIMULATION NANOTUBES SURFACE FE physical vapor deposition proton-exchange membrane fuel cells Pt-alloy catalysts oxygen reduction reaction