Carbon nanotubes supported platinum–gold alloy nanocrystals composites with ultrahigh activity for the formic acid oxidation reaction

Improving the electrocatalytic activity , durability, and utilization of anode eletrocatalysts are crucial for accelerating commercialization of direct formic acid fuel cells. In this work, the multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) supported PtAu alloy nanocrystals (MWCNTs/PtAu) composites are synthesized by a one-pot wet-chemical method using polyethyleneimine as the complexant and surfactant . The physicochemical properties of the as-prepared MWCNTs/PtAu composites are characterized detailedly by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy , scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, etc . These structural investigations display the PtAu alloy nanocrystals are highly dispersed on the surface of the MWCNTs. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry measurements show the as-prepared MWCNTs/PtAu composites significantly enhance the direct dehydrogenation pathway of the formic acid oxidation reaction, resulting in the improved electocatalytic activity and durability for the formic acid electrooxidation .