MXene-supported PtCo bimetallic catalyst for high-performance methanol oxidation

The methanol oxidation reaction is a critical half-reaction in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), but its efficiency is limited by the low activity and poor stability of traditional electrocatalysts. This study reports the development of a high-performance PtCo/Mo 2 CT x catalyst for methanol oxidation in DMFCs. Synthesized by depositing PtCo alloy nanoparticles on Mo 2 CT x sheets prepared via cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-assisted etching of Mo 2 Ga 2 C, the PtCo/Mo 2 CT x catalyst achieved enhanced interlayer spacing and excellent dispersion of active sites. The optimized PtCo/Mo 2 CT x catalyst exhibited remarkable catalytic activity, reaching a mass activity of 2296 mA·mg Pt −1 —6.5 times that of commercial Pt/C. Electrochemical studies confirmed the catalyst’s low charge transfer resistance, high electrochemical surface area, and strong CO anti-poisoning ability. Stability tests showed that the catalyst retained 62.26% activity after 1000 cycles. These improvements are attributed to the synergistic effects between Pt and Co, the conductive and layered structure of Mo 2 CT x , making PtCo/Mo 2 CT x a promising, durable anode material for DMFCs in sustainable energy applications. Graphical abstract