Ru decorated Pt nanoparticles by a modified polyol process for enhanced catalytic activity for methanol oxidation

Ru decorated Pt nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared by a modified polyol synthesis method for enhanced catalytic activity for methanol oxidation. The characterizations for the electrocatalysts were carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA). The modified polyol synthesis method promoted position-controlled nucleation and growth of Ru atoms near Pt, and resulted in improved durability against catalyst poisoning compared to PtRu/MWCNTs prepared by common polyol method. This concept also allowed a high loading and dispersion of the catalyst on the carbon supports with few agglomerations of catalyst nanoparticles, resulting in high catalytic activity.