A self-supporting bimetallic Au@Pt core-shell nanoparticle electrocatalyst for the synergistic enhancement of methanol oxidation

• Main Authors: Changhui Tan, Yinghui Sun, Jianzhong Zheng, Dan Wang, Ziyang Li, Huajie Zeng, Jun Guo, Liqiang Jing, Lin Jiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Publishing Group 2017-07-01
• Series: Scientific Reports
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06639-5

Abstract The morphology of Pt−Au bimetal nanostructures plays an important role in enhancing the catalytic capability, catalytic stability and utilization efficiency of the platinum. We designed and successfully prepared Au@Pt nanoparticles (NPs) through an economical, surfactant-free and efficient method of seed-mediated growth. The Au@Pt NPs displayed electrochemical performances superior to those of commercial Pt/C catalysts because their agglomeration was prevented and exhibited better long-term stability with respect to methanol oxidation in acidic media by efficiently removing intermediates. Among the obtained Au@Pt NPs, Au90@Pt10 NPs exhibited the most significantly enhanced catalytic performance for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). Their mass and electrochemically active surface area (ECSA)-normalized current densities are approximately 3.9 and 4.6 times higher than those of commercial Pt/C catalysts, respectively. The oxidation current densities of the Au90@Pt10 NPs are approximately 1.8 times higher than those of commercial Pt/C catalysts after 4000 s of continuous measurement because the small Pt NPs grown on the surface of the Au90@Pt10 NPs were effectively stabilized by the Au metal support. This approach may be a facile method for the synthesis of self-supported bimetallic nanostructures, which is of great significance for the development of high performance electrocatalysts and sensors.