Polycarbazole as an efficient promoter for electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid on Pt and Pt-Ru nanoparticles

►Pt, Pt-Ru supported on polycarbazole (PCZ) are prepared and used for formic acid electrooxidation. ► PCZ modified Pt and Pt-Ru catalysts exhibit superior electrocatalytic activities. ► PCZ modified Pt and Pt-Ru catalysts mitigate the COads-like poisoning.