One-pot synthesis of PtRh/β-CD-CNTs for methanol oxidation

• PtRh nanoparticles were uniformly deposited on β-CD modified CNTs by one-pot method.
• β-CD acts as reducing agent of metal ions and dispersant of CNTs.
• Pt1Rh1/β-CD-CNTs show superior electrocatalytic performances for methanol oxidation.

Taking beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) as reducting agent and dispersant, PtRh nanoparticles with varied metal composition were uniformly deposited on the β-CD functionalized carbon nanotubes (β-CD-CNTs) by one-pot hydrothermal synthesis method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis were used to demonstrate the successful modification of CNTs with β-CD. The morphology, chemical composition and structure of the β-CD-CNTs supported PtRh catalysts (PtRh/β-CD-CNTs) have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, respectively. Their electrochemical performances were investigated by typical electrochemical technologies. The results indicate that PtRh/β-CD-CNTs catalyst with 1:1 atomic ratio of Pt/Rh (Pt1Rh1/β-CD-CNTs) shows superior electrocatalytic properties towards methanol oxidation. In addition, compared with the acid-treatment CNTs (AO-CNTs) supported PtRh nanoparticles (PtRh/AO-CNTs) prepared by typical NaBH4 reduction, Pt1Rh1/β-CD-CNTs exhibits more excellent electrocatalytic performance for methanol electro-oxidation due to the smaller particle size and more uniform deposition of PtRh nanoparticles.