Facile synthesis of carbon-supported pseudo-core@shell PdCu@Pt nanoparticles for direct methanol fuel cells

摘要

One of the key objectives in fuel cell technology is to improve activity and reduce Pt loading of the electrocatalysts. In this work, carbon-supported pseudo-core@shell PdCu@Pt nanoparticles (donated as PdCu@Pt/C) with intimate contact of Pt and PdCu are prepared by a galvanic displacement reaction between PdCu/C alloy nanoparticles and PtCl_6~(2-) in aqueous solution. The core@shell nanostructure is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The PdCu@Pt/C catalysts demonstrate enhanced specific activity to methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction. The present synthesis route is very facile and economical, which may be suitable for large-scale production of catalysts with low-cost and high activity.