An advantageous method for methanol oxidation: Design and fabrication of a nanoporous PtRuNi trimetallic electrocatalyst

In this study, an advantageous method of methanol oxidation is developed using a nanoporous structured PtRuNi trimetallic catalyst fabricated by dealloying Ni from a high Ni-content PtRuNi alloy precursor. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used for catalyst characterization. The nanoporous PtRuNi trimetallic catalyst shows enhanced CO oxidation, higher activity and better stability than solid commercial PtRu/C catalyst. The method developed in this study is well suited to synthesize other high performance, nanoporous-structured, multimetallic electrocatalysts for fuel cells.

► Designed and fabricated a novel nanoporous PtRuNi/C trimetallic catalyst. ► Showed enhanced CO oxidation, high activity and good stability. ► Combine the advantage of nanoporous structure and trimetallic alloy in one. ► Nanoporous PtRuNi trimetallic catalyst can improve the utilization of PtRu.