Preparation of PtCo/CNTs-C nanocatalysts and electrocatalytic oxidation performance of methanol

Using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and XC-72R carbon black as the carrier, PtCo/CNTs-C catalyst with high electrochemical activity was prepared by impregnation reduction method. The structure of the catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The material was used as a catalyst for methanol anodic oxidation, and the effects of different Co doping and temperature on the reaction were investigated. The results showed that PtCo bimetallic alloy was formed in PtCo/CNTs-C nano-catalyst, and the alloy particles were relatively evenly distributed on the surface of the carrier. The introduction of carbon black and metal Co endowed the catalyst with higher catalytic activity. When the mass ratio of Pt∶Co was 94∶6, the catalyst had lower initial potential (−0.651 V (vs SCE)) and higher current density (86.74 mA/cm²) for the catalytic oxidation of methanol, and the chronoamperometric test showed that the catalyst had good stability.