Rational one-pot synthesis of ternary PtIrCu nanocrystals as robust electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation reaction

Abstract

Development of self-assembled nanoarchitectures of tailored morphology and composition for diversified applications have received great interest in the last decades. Pt-based nanocrystals (NCs) exhibited enhanced catalytic performance towards different applications specially as electrocatalysts for fuel cells. Herein, ternary PtIrCu nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared via one-pot synthesis procedure and employed as electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in acid medium. The as-prepared ternary NCs exhibited mass activity of 863 mA mg−1 which is almost 1.5, 2.2, and 6.0 times more greater than that of PtCu, PtIr, and Pt/C, respectively. Additionally, after stability test for 1000 s, the retained current density on PtIrCu NCs was 13.6 times higher than that on Pt/C. The enhanced catalytic activity and durability of ternary PtIrCu NCs compared to PtCu, PtIr, and Pt/C was assigned to the strain and electronic effects which enhance the oxidation kinetics and enhance the poisoning tolerance towards CO-like intermediate species.