Highly active and durable methanol oxidation electrocatalyst based on the synergy of platinum–nickel hydroxide–graphene

Active and durable electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction are of critical importance to the commercial viability of direct methanol fuel cell technology. Unfortunately, current methanol oxidation electrocatalysts fall far short of expectations and suffer from rapid activity degradation. Here we report platinum-nickel hydroxide-graphene ternary hybrids as a possible solution to this long-standing issue. The incorporation of highly defective nickel hydroxide nanostructures is believed to play the decisive role in promoting the dissociative adsorption of water molecules and subsequent oxidative removal of carbonaceous poison on neighbouring platinum sites. As a result, the ternary hybrids exhibit…

• UO
  University of Saskatchewan
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 51222202, 51472173, BK20140302, 51522208
• GO
  Government of Jiangsu Province
• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province

  Awards: BK20140302, 51522208, BK20140302 and SBK2015010320, SBK2015010320, 51472173
• PA
  Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions

  Awards: BK20140302, 51472173, 51522208
• CI
  Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology

  Awards: 51472173, 51522208, BK20140302
• CI
  Canadian Institutes of Health Research
• NS
  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
• WE
  Western Economic Diversification Canada