Dendrite-Embedded Platinum–Nickel Multiframes as Highly Active and Durable Electrocatalyst toward the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Pt-based nanoframe catalysts have been explored extensively due to their superior activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, we report the synthesis of Pt–Ni multiframes, which exhibit the unique structure of tightly fused multiple nanoframes and reinforced by an embedded dendrite. Rapid reduction and deposition of Ni atoms on Pt–Ni nanodendrites induce the alloying/dealloying of Pt and Ni in the overall nanostructures. After chemical etching of Ni, the newly formed dendrite-embedded Pt–Ni multiframes show an electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of 73.4 m2 gPt–1 and a mass ORR activity of 1.51 A mgPt–1 at 0.93 V, which is 30-fold higher than that of the state-of-the-art Pt/C catalyst. We suggest that high ECSA and ORR performances of dendrite-embedded Pt–Ni multiframes/C can be attributed to the porous nanostructure and numerous active sites exposed on surface grain boundaries and high-indexed facets.