Platinum‐Decorated Si Nanowires as Methanol‐Tolerant Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysts

Abstract

Abstract Platinum decorated Si nanowire (Pt/SiNW) catalysts were prepared by directly reducing Pt ions with Si−H bonds and exhibited excellent electrocatalytic behavior in the methanol tolerant oxygen reduction reaction. The onset potential and half wave potential of Pt/SiNW catalysts were positively shifted about 29 and 9 mV respectively compared with Pt/C commercial catalysts. Furthermore, the methanol tolerant capacity of Pt/SiNW catalysts is much higher than that of Pt/C commercial catalysts since the current density of Pt/C for methanol oxidation is 13.45 (or 20.56) folds higher when 0.1 (or 1) M methanol was added into the electrolyte. The outstanding catalytic performance of Pt/SiNW catalysts is due to the synergistic effect of Pt nanoparticles and SiNWs: Pt nanoparticles are tightly anchored SiNWs, avoiding the aggregation during the electrochemical process. Meanwhile, SiNWs may hinder the methanol oxidation and improve the tolerant capacity. The results presented here confirm the Pt/SiNW catalyst is efficient and ecologically friendly catalysts for direct methanol fuel cell technology.