Enhanced Activity for Methanol Electro-oxidation on PtRu/C Catalyst by Reduction Treatment

Modified ethylene glycol method was used to synthesize PtRu/C catalyst which then annealed at different temperatures in hydrogen atmosphere. By X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, the structure and composition of catalysts were analyzed; Simultaneous thermal analysis tests gave the mass loss and thermal effect of the catalysts. Electrochemical methods were used to evaluate electro-catalytic activity of the catalysts towards CO and methanol electro-oxidation. The results showed that the average particle size and PtRu alloy crystallinity increased during the reduction treatment. Most of the surface adsorption species were removed after reduction treatment at 300 degrees C due to the decomposition temperature ranges of 110 similar to 220 degrees C. The catalyst with reduction treatment at 300 degrees C exhibited the highest electrocatalytic activities, which was attributed to the removal of adsoption species, the increase of crystallinity and the formation of grain boundary.