Highly ordered and surfactant-free PtxRuy bimetallic nanocomposites synthesized by electrostatic self assembly for methanol oxidation reaction

Positively charged Ru nanoparticles (∼1.0 nm, zeta potential = +6.6 mV) induced by hydrated protons and negatively charged Pt nanoparticles (∼2.2 nm, zeta potential = −4.2 mV) by NO3− are synthesized separately. Without use of any high molecular weight surfactants, oppositely charged surfactant-free Ru and Pt colloids display sustained stability. Highly ordered PtxRuy nanocomposites are electrostatically self assembled when the oppositely charged Ru and Pt colloids were mixed at room temperature. CO stripping voltammograms of PtxRuy/C show that the CO stripping peak and the on-set oxidation potential are highly dependent on Pt/Ru ratio, which is most probably due to the different interstitial space between Pt and Ru in the self-assembled patterns. The mass-normalized activity of Pt3Ru1/C for methanol oxidation reaction is found to be 112% higher relative to that of PtRu/C catalyst from E-TEK.