Microemulsion synthesis and electrocatalytic properties of platinum-cobalt nanoparticles

Mixed platinum-cobalt nanoparticles were prepared using a water-in-oil reverse microemulsion of water-Triton X-100-propan-2-ol-cyclohexane. Nanoparticles formed in the microemulsions were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). TEM shows the Pt-Co nanoparticles to have a narrow size distribution with an average of 3-4 nm. A uniform phase of platinum and cobalt in the nanoparticles was indicated by XRD analysis. The nanoparticles were supported on a carbon electrode with high dispersion. Even at a low precious metal loading, a high catalytic activity was demonstrated for methanol oxidation at room temperature.