Two-dimensional mesoporous carbon nanosheets supported PdPt alloy catalysts for enhanced ethanol electrooxidation...

Developing ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) catalysts that integrate high activity with long-term durability is crucial for advancing the practical application of direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs). Herein, we report a green and scalable NaCl molten-salt templating strategy to construct PdPt alloy nanoparticles supported on hierarchical dual-mesoporous carbon nanosheets (PdPt/2D-OMCN). The resulting two-dimensional mesoporous carbon support features an ultrathin sheet-like morphology, high specific surface area, and hierarchical pores comprising small mesopores (3.7 nm) and large mesopores (15-35 nm), which collectively promote the homogeneous dispersion of PdPt nanoparticles, exposure of active sites, and rapid transport of reactants/products. In alkaline EOR, PdPt/2D-OMCN exhibits outstanding electrochemical durability, retaining 88.7% and 74.3% of its initial activity after 1000 and 2000 accelerated cycles, respectively. This work provides an effective structural-design strategy for highly stable noble-metal alloy electrocatalysts and broadens the application prospects of two-dimensional mesoporous carbon materials in alcohol electrooxidation.