Fabrication and catalytic properties of Pt and Ru decorated TiO2⧹CNTs catalyst for methanol electrooxidation

Highly ordered anodic titania nanotube arrays provide a large surface area for electrodepositing nickel nanoparticles which are used as the catalyst for carbon nanotube growth. Pt and Ru nanoparticles, approximately 3 nm in diameter, are uniformly electrodeposited on the as synthesized titania-supported carbon nanotubes (CNTs), constructing a novel catalyst for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol. An enhanced and stable catalytic activity is obtained due to the uniformly dispersed Pt and Ru nanoparticles, and the large CNT network facilitating the electron transfer between the adsorbed methanol molecules and the catalyst substrate. An oxidation peak current density of 55 mA/cm² is achieved at a low Pt load of 0.126 mg/cm² with a Pt/Ru mole ratio of 1:1.