Universal interface-confined strategy for trough-like AgPtM (M=Ru, Ir, Sn) nanostructures for methanol electro-oxidation

Abstract

AgPt-based tri-metallic electrocatalyst as an emerging electrocatalyst is demonstrated to have superior catalytic performance. However, it still lacks a universal synthesis strategy currently because of the participation of multiple precursors with different electrical reduction potentials, which is greatly limited to developing high-performance electrocatalysts. Here, a universal interface-confined strategy method is developed to transform the starting Ag nanowires into a series of novel AgPtM (M=Ru, Ir, Sn) alloy nanotroughs at water/air interface. Moreover, owing to their unique trough-like structure, rough surface and the electronic synergistic effect between oxyphilic metals and Pt component, the AgPtM (M=Ru, Ir, Sn) alloy nanotroughs all show enhanced electrocatalytic performance for methanol electro-oxidation. Notably, among all the prepared AgPtM (M=Ru, Ir, Sn) catalysts, the AgPtRu exhibits the best mass activity, ∼ 3.7 and ∼1.65 times higher than that of Pt/C and AgPt nanotroughs counterpart, respectively. This study not only develops a new promising electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation, also provides method guidance for the construction of advanced Pt-based tri-metallic electrocatalysts in practical direct alcohol fuel cell.