Pt electrocatalyst-loaded carbon nanofibre–Ru core–shell supports for improved methanol electrooxidation

We synthesize Pt electrocatalyst-loaded carbon nanofibre (CNF)–Ru core–shell supports using electrospinning and a reduction method. To investigate the properties of the CNF–Ru core–shell supports, four different loadings of the Ru shell layer are used: 0 wt.% (Pt/CNFs), 10 wt.% (sample A), 20 wt.% (sample B), and 30 wt.% (sample C). Sample B exhibits superior electrocatalytic activity and high electrocatalytic stability as compared to commercial Pt/XC-72, Pt/CNFs, sample A, and sample C. This enhancement could be because of the excellent dispersion of the Pt electrocatalysts, due to the optimum loading of the Ru shell layer on the CNF supports.