Preparation of carbon-supported PtRu nanoparticles for direct methanol fuel cell applications : a comparative study

Abstract Carbon-supported PtRu nanoparticles were prepared by different methods that involve the simultaneous chemical reduction of H 2 PtCl 6 and RuCl 3 by NaBH 4 at room temperature ( PtRu-1 ), by ethanol under reflux ( PtRu-2 ), and by the thermal decomposition of a single-source molecular precursor [(bipy) 3 Ru] (PtCl 6 ) ( PtRu-3 ). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examinations show that the mean diameter of the PtRu nanoparticles is lowest for PtRu-1 followed by PtRu-2 and PtRu-3 . Measurements of electrocatalytic properties, however, reveal a different trend, namely: PtRu-3  >  PtRu-1  >  PtRu-2 . This is attributed to the formation of a more homogenous alloy nanoparticle system from the thermolysis of the single-source molecular precursor. All three catalysts are more active than commercially available E-TEK (20 wt.%) Pt catalyst. PtRu-3 also displays the highest tolerance to carbon monoxide. Heat treatment of PtRu-1 and PtRu-2 only marginally affects their electrocatalytic performance, whereas the co-reduction of H 2 PtCl 6 and RuCl 3 under alkaline conditions has more adverse outcomes.

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