Fe–Pt thin film for oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract: Thin films of Fe_xPt_100−x (0 < x < 80) alloy were prepared via magnetron sputtering deposition and investigated as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction, a process that is central to hydrogen fuel cell technology. Room temperature sputtering produced smooth, uniform films of tightly packed nanocrystallites with a disordered face-centred cubic crystal structure. The electrocatalytic performance of the Fe–Pt thin film catalysts was measured using rotating disk electrode technique and compared with state-of-the-art commercial Pt/C catalysts. Maximum area-specific activity for oxygen reduction of 0.87 mA cm⁻² at 0.9 V vs. RHE was measured on the Fe₄₆Pt₅₄ film, which was 1.5 times that of pure sputtered Pt (0.57 mA cm⁻²) and almost twice the value for commercial Pt/C (0.45 mA cm⁻²) at the same potential. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].