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

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 PtCl62− 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.