PtRu nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped polyhedral mesoporous carbons as electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation

Abstract

Nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbons (NMPCs) with well-developed polyhedral morphology were prepared by direct carbonization of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanopolyhedrons. The fantastic structural characteristics of NMPCs such as ultrahigh BET surface area (1960 m2 g−1), large pore volume (1.16 cm3 g−1), and nitrogen doping make it an excellent catalyst support. PtRu nanoparticles (with a size of approximately 1.9 nm) were homogeneously supported on NMPCs by microwave-assisted reduction in ethylene glycol, and the obtained PtRu/NMPCs catalyst shows a significantly higher electrocatalytic activity and stability for methanol oxidation than the typical commercial PtRu/C (E-TEK) catalyst.