High-performance Pd@PtRu/C catalyst for the anodic oxidation of methanol prepared by decorating Pd/C with a PtRu shell

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 224; pp. 66 - 71
• Main Authors: Wu, Yan-Ni, Liao, Shi-Jun, Guo, Hai-Fu, Hao, Xiang-Ying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.02.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts: preparations and properties; Chemistry; CO tolerance; Core–shell structure; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Low-platinum catalyst; Methanol oxidation; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; CO tolerance; Core–shell structure; Low-platinum catalyst; Methanol oxidation; High performance; Particle size; Supported catalyst; Thickness; Transmission electron microscopy; Ruthenium alloy; Core―shell structure; Anodizing; Platinum alloy; Active component; Photoelectron spectrometry; Oxidation; Catalyst activity; Binary alloy; Methanol; X-ray photoelectron spectra
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.09.079

A high-performance, low platinum loading catalyst for the anodic oxidation of methanol, Pd@PtRu/C, is prepared by a two-step colloidal approach. The activity of the Pd@PtRu/C catalyst is 1.67 times and 1.81 times that of PtRu/C and PtRuPd/C catalysts, respectively. The catalysts are characterized by TEM, XPS, and XRD. The active components are dispersed on the surface of the carbon support very well, yielding a particle size of ca. 4.7 nm and a shell thickness of ca. 0.25 nm. The catalyst's high activity may be attributed to the high exposure and dispersion of PtRu, as well as the interaction of PtRu in the shell layer with Pd in the core, resulting from the catalyst's core–shell structure. A core–shell structured catalyst, Pd@PtRu/C, with PtRu alloy shell was prepared by two stage colloidal method. The catalyst showed superior activity to PtRu/C and PtRuPd/C catalysts for the anodic oxidation of methanol, its activity is 1.67 times and 1.81 times of that of PtRu/C and PtRuPd/C catalysts, respectively. The If/Ib ratio of the catalyst is high up to 1.58, indicating the good poisoning tolerance of the core–shell catalyst with PtRu shell layer. [Display omitted] ► Core–shell Pd@PtRu/C catalyst was prepared by a two-step colloidal method. ► The mass activity for Pd@PtRu/C catalyst is about 1.67 times as large as PtRu/C. ► The catalyst shows excellent poisoning tolerance as PtRu/C catalyst. ► The interaction of alloy shell with Pd core was revealed by XPS results.