Pt decorated Ti3C2 MXene for enhanced methanol oxidation reaction

Abstract

Carbon support used in commercial Pt/C commonly suffers from corrosion under harsh electrooxidation environment endowed by anodic potential. An alternative support with superior electric conductivity and stable structure should be developed. Herein, Ti3C2 MXene was synthesized as support to immobilize Pt nanoparticles due to its fascinating stable layered structure, and metallic property. Used as electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) for the first time, as-prepared Pt/Ti3C2 MXene showed much enhanced electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation, as unraveled by its peak current density of 1.137 mA/cm2, nearly three times larger than that of Pt/C (0.388 mA/cm2). Moreover, it also exhibited long-term stability even running for 2 h. In addition, Pt/Ti3C2 MXene was able to catalyze electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution with only 7 mV overpotential at − 10 mA/cm2, obviously lower than that of Pt/C (17 mV). The improved MOR and HER activity of Pt/Ti3C2 MXene could be assigned to the unique stable 2D nanosheet structure, excellent electric conductivity, strong binding strength as well as electronic effect between Pt and Ti3C2 MXene. This work widens the application of Ti3C2 MXene in the field of methanol oxidation and hydrogen evolution reaction.