Gold-decorated platinum nanoparticles in polyelectrolyte multilayers with enhanced catalytic activity for methanol oxidation

• A new catalyst was developed for methanol oxidation.
• Au-decorated-Pt nanoparticles were synthesized in situ in polymer film support.
• The nanoparticles exhibited better electrocatalytic properties than monometallic Pt.

In the development of commercial direct methanol fuel cells, search for alternative electrocatalysts for Pt with superior catalytic activity and long-term operation stability remains a major challenge. This paper reports the synthesis of Au-decorated-Pt (Pt^Au) nanoparticles in polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMUs) via ion-exchange/in situ reduction cycles in conjunction with a seed-mediated growth process. The structure of the Pt^Au nanoparticles in the PEMU was characterized by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and selected-area electron diffraction. The electrocatalytic performance of the nanoparticles for methanol oxidation reaction was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, and the results show that the Pt^Au nanoparticles exhibited better electrocatalytic efficiency, tolerance to poisoning and long-term stability compared with monometallic Pt, showing synergistic effects between the bimetallic components. The PEMU-supported Pt^Au nanoparticles may find application as an anode catalyst in direct methanol fuel cells.

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