O2-enhanced methanol oxidation reaction at novel Pt-Ru-C co-sputtered electrodes

A Pt-Ru-C electrode has been developed using a co-sputtering technique for use as the anode catalyst of a mixed-reactant fuel cell. The physical and electrochemical characteristics of the electrodes demonstrate that co-sputtered Pt and Ru form a Pt–Ru alloy. The crystallite sizes of the catalysts investigated in this study are reduced by the addition of C to the Pt–Ru alloy. Cu stripping voltammograms suggest that the sputtering of C and the formation of the Pt–Ru alloy synergically increase the electrochemical surface area of the electrodes. The methanol oxidation performances of the prepared electrodes were evaluated in N2 and O2 atmospheres; the Pt-Ru-C electrodes achieve an O2-induced negative shift in the onset potential of the methanol oxidation (Eonset) and enhance the methanol oxidation current density in the O2 atmosphere. The mechanism of O2-enhanced methanol oxidation with a negative Eonset at the Pt-Ru-C electrodes is attributed to a change in the electronic structure of Pt due to the formation of Pt–Ru alloy and the generation of O-based adsorption species by the reduction of O2. Finally, the composition of the Pt-Ru-C electrode for the O2-enhanced methanol oxidation with a negative Eonset was found to be optimal at an atomic ratio of Pt: 0.24–0.80, Ru: 0.14–0.61, and C: 0.06–0.37.

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► Novel Pt-Ru-C electrodes were prepared by a co-sputtering technique.
► Co-sputtered electrodes with C result in highly efficient O2-enhanced methanol oxidation.
► Pt–Ru-alloy-based co-sputtered electrode induces a negative onset potential of methanol oxidation.
► The Pt-Ru-C electrodes allow a negative onset potential of O2-enhanced methanol oxidation.
► The optimum atomic ratios of Pt-Ru-C are Pt: 0.24–0.80, Ru: 0.14–0.61, C: 0.06–0.37.