The use of galvanic displacement in synthesizing Pt(Cu) catalysts with the core-shell structure

The formation of a Pt(Cu) bimetallic catalyst on the carbon support by galvanic displacement of copper electrodeposits with platinum (PtCl ₆ ^2? as the displacing agent) is systematically studied. Composition, structure, and electrocatalytic properties of samples corresponding to different stages of copper displacement are analyzed. For substantially long displacement times, the formation of stable Pt(Cu)_st particles with the atomic ratio Pt: Cu ≈ 7: 3 is observed. The Pt(Cu)_st/C electrodes are shown to be close to the Pt/C electrode as regards the adsorption of hydrogen and copper atoms and the specific activity in methanol oxidation (with 0.5 M H₂SO₄ as the supporting electrolyte). Such electrocatalytic behavior of Pt(Cu)_st particles makes it possible to infer the formation of the “core(Pt, Cu)-shell(Pt)” structure, as confirmed by the XPS data.