Efficient Electrooxidation of Ethanol on Annular Cu@Pt–Ru Ternary Metal Catalyst

Abstract

Many efforts have been made to develop efficient electrocatalysts for ethanol fuel cells. However, the commonly used Pt‐based catalysts still have some shortcomings, such as low catalytic activity, severe CO poisoning, and poor stability. Herein, the preparation of Cu@Pt–Ru catalysts with high activity against CO poisoning by using an electrochemical method is reported. Because of its interatomic electronic effects, the Cu@Pt6.98Ru1 catalyst exhibits high electrocatalytic performance for the ethanol oxidation reaction. The mass activity reaches 641 mA mgPt−1, which are 2.9, 5.13, and 8.8 times those of CuPt, PtRu/C, and Pt/C catalysts, respectively. The specific activity reaches 3.19 mA cm−2, which are 1.77, 2.06, and 2.4 times those of CuPt, PtRu/C, and Pt/C catalysts, respectively. The catalytic activity remains relatively high after 2000s. The results have proven that the successful introduction of Cu and Ru into the Pt lattice would improve the catalytic activity and stability and increase its ability to resist CO poisoning of the catalyst.