NiCo alloy synergistic Pt nanocatalysts for enhancing the durability of the methanol oxidation reaction

Abstract

The electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation is the key to determining the performance and lifetime of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). At present, the most effective and promising electrocatalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) are Pt and platinum-based catalysts. Unfortunately, the toxicity of CO intermediates leads to rapid inactivation of the MOR catalyst, further lowering the durability of the MOR. In response to this issue, it has been found that effective screening of good oxygen evolution reaction (OER) active materials and synergistic application with Pt in the MOR can reduce the loss of activity and improve its durability. Based on this strategy, a series of Pt-based MOR catalysts (Pt/Ni, Pt/Co and Pt/NiCo) are synthesized by electrodeposition. The results indicate that the OER activity of Pt/Ni, Pt/Co, and Pt/NiCo is positively correlated with MOR activity and durability. Among the Pt-based MOR catalysts, the ultimate optimized Pt/NiCo exhibits excellent MOR performance, with a good mass activity of 495 A g_Pt⁻¹, strong CV cycle durability (63.6% activity retained after 5000 cycles), and a long-term operating durability of 15 000 s in alkaline solution.