Facile preparation Pt on Au dendrites supported on Si (100) and their electrochemical properties for methanol and CO electrooxidation

A new simple, time-saving method of preparing highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles with large electrochemically active area (ECA) on three-dimensional dendrite-like Au supported on Si (100) was successfully developed by electroless displacement deposition (EDD). The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscope and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The electro-catalytic properties of Pt/Au/Si for methanol and CO electrooxidation were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedances spectra. The results show that Pt/Au/Si catalyst prepared by EDD method presents the higher electro-catalytic activity and higher stability than that of Pt/Si composite. The electro-catalytic activity of Pt supported on Au could be enhanced with the growth of Au, leading to the higher electro-catalytic properties toward methanol and CO oxidation. The anodic peak of CO of Pt/Au/Si catalyst showed negatively shifted with respect to similarly prepared Pt/Si electrode. The supposed schematic of the reaction was also introduced. Overall, the approach provides a convenient method to prepare the Pt catalyst on Au dendrites with high ECA properties for DMFC and PEMFC through bottom-up assembly.