Effect of transition metals (Ni, Sn and Mo) in Pt5Ru4M alloy ternary electrocatalyst on methanol electro-oxidation

Pure Pt, PtRu and Pt5Ru4M (M = Ni, Sn and Mo) electrocatalysts were prepared using a NaBH4 reduction method. The alloy formation and particle size of the electrocatalysts were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The formation of crystalline Pt was confirmed regardless of the addition of Ru and transition metals. The average particle size was found to be about 2.5–3.5 nm.The electrochemical properties of the electrocatalysts were analyzed by methanol electro-oxidation and CO stripping in the half cell. The mass activity and specific activity were obtained through these experiments. Methanol electro-oxidation and the specific activity of the PtRuNi electrocatalyst were much higher than that of PtRu electrocatalyst. The specific activity of methanol electro-oxidation based on EAS for the PtRuSn and PtRuMo electrocatalysts was higher than that of the PtRu, although their mass activity of methanol electro-oxidation was lower.