Synthesis of silver@platinum-cobalt nanoflower on reduced graphene oxide as an efficient catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction.

A novel oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst silver@platinum-cobalt-rGO nanoflower (Ag@PtCo-rGO NFs) is prepared by hydrothermal reduction method. The formation of silver chloride likes elm leaf microstructure in the reaction process, performing as a template. The Ag@PtCo-rGO NFs exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity, whose specific activity is 9 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C. More importantly, Ag@PtCo-rGO NFs demonstrate excellent durability than JM Pt/C for ORR in acid media, as evidenced by accelerated durability test after 40,000 cycles. These excellent performances can be attributed to the special structure, atomic steps and synergistic effect between Pt, Ag and Co. The density functional theory calculation shows that Ag@PtCo has the best activity, which is related to the transition state for O–O bond. This work proposes a promising pathway for the synthesis of surfactant-free nanoflowers structure catalysts with high catalytic performance and low cost. [Display omitted] • This method prepares nanoflowers without external templates and surfactants. • The SA is 9 times larger than that of commercial Pt/C. • The catalysts exhibit excellent durability after 40,000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]