Composite of Pt–Ru supported SnO2 nanowires grown on carbon paper for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol

Platinum–ruthenium (Pt–Ru) nanoparticles were successfully deposited, for the first time, on the surface of SnO2 nanowires grown directly on carbon paper (Pt–Ru/SnO2 NWs/carbon paper) by potentiostatic electrodeposition method. The resultant Pt–Ru/SnO2 NWs/carbon paper composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The electrocatalytic activities of these composite electrodes for methanol oxidation were investigated and higher mass and specific activities in methanol oxidation were exhibited as compared to Pt–Ru catalysts deposited on glassy carbon electrode.