Enhanced methanol electrooxidation activity of PtRu nanoparticles supported on H2O2-functionalized carbon black

The improvements in the performance in methanol electrooxidation of Pt-Ru nanoparticles deposited on a carbon black substrate functionalized with oxygen surface groups were discussed. The determination of the nature of the oxygen surface groups in the carbons was accomplished by temperature-programmed evolved gas analysis with mass spectrometry. The electrochemical measurements were carried out in a standard three electrodes electrochemical cell where working electrode was prepared according to a modified method. The results were rationalized assuming that most of the Pt-Ru particles were within the mesoporous structure accessible to CO and methanol reactants.