Abstract
The rational design of inexpensive and highly efficient electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) is crucial for direct ethanol fuel cells. In this study, a series of carbon-supported PtCu electrocatalysts with varying Pt/Cu ratios were synthesized using a microfluidic system. This system enabled the separation of heterogeneous nucleation and nanocrystal growth based on segmental thermal induction. Heterogeneous nucleation occurred at the low-temperature zone, which resulted in uniform loading, while the enhancement of solvent reducibility in the high-temperature region enabled the control of the PtCu nanoparticle composition. The synthesized PtCu/C electrocatalyst, with Cu content adjustable from 17% to 38%, exhibited high crystallinity and homogeneous dispersion, with an average particle size of 3.9 nm. These advantageous physical properties endowed the PtCu/C electrocatalysts with significantly enhanced electrocatalytic performance for EOR compared with commercial Pt/C catalysts. The development of this method presents a novel approach for the controlled preparation of supported catalysts.
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