Enhanced stability and activity of PtRu nanotubes for methanol electrooxidation

PtRu 1D nanostructures on titanium are prepared and analysed as electrocatalysts for methanol electrooxidation. The morphology and composition of the 1D nanostructure are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The electrocatalytic properties of such catalysts for methanol oxidation are investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) in 1.0 M CH₃OH + 0.5 M H₂SO₄ aqueous solution. The results show that Pt₄₆Ru₅₄ nanotubes yields to a five-fold improvement of the mass specific activity and to a three-fold improvement of the long-term poisoning rate as compared to PtRu black of similar composition.