Composition Modulation of Pt-Based Nanowire Electrocatalysts Enhances Methanol Oxidation Performance

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Composition modulation enhances platinum-based electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cells.
• Developing robust methods for multicomponent nanowire electrocatalysts is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a versatile method for high-quality Pt-based nanowires and nanotubes.
• To investigate composition-dependent performance for the methanol oxidation reaction.

Main Methods:

• A simple solvothermal process was employed to synthesize Pt-based nanowires and nanotubes.
• Synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy was used to analyze catalyst structures before and after catalysis.

Main Results:

• Quaternary PtRuAgTe nanotubes exhibited the lowest onset potential (0.387 V) and highest activity (1145 mA mg⁻¹ Pt).
• The PtRuAgTe nanotubes demonstrated superior long-term durability over 30,000 seconds.
• Performance enhancement is attributed to synergistic compositional effects and the unique nanotube structure.

Conclusions:

• The developed method enables scalable production of high-performance Pt-based nanowires and nanotubes.
• This work provides a new route to enhance both catalytic activity and durability for electrocatalyst applications.