Electrochemical oxidation of small organic molecules on hydrothermal synthesized Pt and PtCo/ordered mesoporous carbon

Ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) supported nanosized Pt and PtCo alloy electrocatalysts were synthesized by ethylene glycol hydrothermal reduction route and their electrochemical oxidation activity toward several typical small organic molecules (SOMs) was investigated. Structural characterization revealed that Pt and PtCo nanoparticles with mean diameter of 3–4 nm were well dispersed on OMC (BET specific surface of 2220 cm2/g). Electrochemical measurements confirmed that electrochemical oxidation behaviors of SOMs on synthesized Pt/OMC and PtCo/OMC catalysts were complicated and the carbon chain length of SOMs and the intermediates, especially COads oxidation behaviors on Pt active sites are two main factors which affect the SOMs oxidation.

► Ordered mesoporous carbon supported Pt and PtCo bimetal composites were synthesized.
► Electrochemical oxidation activity toward small organic molecules were investigated.
► Electro-oxidation is related to the chain length of SOMs and their intermediates.