Platinum-Decorated Ruthenium Nanoparticles for Enhanced Methanol Electrooxidation

A promising electrocatalyst based on the reduction of Pt²⁺ ions on the surface of hexagonally close-packed (hcp) Ru core nanoparticles has been prepared by a redox-transmetalation process. This simple synthetic process generates a Pt-on-Ru catalyst with a lower Pt content than commercially available Pt-Ru electrocatalysts and with a long-range ordered hcp structure, which can significantly reduce the Pt loading. X-Ray absorption spectroscopy of the Pt-on-Ru catalyst reveals pronounced electronic modifications when compared to the commercial Pt-Ru black catalyst. The Pt-on-Ru catalyst exhibits a higher mass-specific current than the Pt-Ru black catalyst in solution in 0.5M H₂SO₄ with 10 vol.% CH₃OH under the conditions of rotating disk experiments. Further optimization of this synthetic procedure may yield even more active electrocatalysts with a significant reduction in noble metal loadings.