A new route for the electrodeposition of platinum–nickel alloy nanoparticles on multi-walled carbon nanotubes

An electrochemical method was developed to deposit platinum (Pt) and nickel (Ni) nanoparticles on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through a three-step process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) show the alloy formation for Pt and Ni with a ratio of 1:1. The presence of Pt(0), Ni(0), Ni(OH)2, NiOOH and slight NiO was deduced from XPS data. Electrocatalytic properties of the resulting PtNi/MWCNT electrode for methanol oxidation reaction were investigated. Compared with Pt/MWCNT, an appreciably improved resistance to CO poisoning was observed for the PtNi/MWCNT electrode, which was interpreted by a mechanism based on the bifunctional catalysis. The successful preparation of PtNi/MWCNT nanocomposites opens a new path for an efficient dispersion of the promising electrocatalysts in the direct methanol fuel cells.