Improved Methanol Electro-Oxidation of Pt Electrocatalysts on Porous Carbon Nanofiber-Ruthenium Core-Shell Supports

Abstract

Well-dispersed Pt electro-catalysts decorated on porous carbon nanofiber-Ru core-shell supports were synthesized using co-electrospinning followed by a reduction method for improved methanol electro-oxidation. To determine the optimum conditions for porous carbon nanofiber-Ru core-shell supports, we prepared three different loading amounts of the Ru shell layer: 10 wt% (sample A), 20 wt% (sample B), and 30 wt% (sample C). Of the three, sample B exhibited the highest methanol electro-oxidation (similar to 741.1 mA/mg(Pt)), excellent poison tolerance, and superb electrocatalytic stability compared with Pt/carbon nanofiber and commercial Pt/C. The enhanced electrochemical performance can be explained by the combined effects of well-dispersed Pt electro-catalysts on porous carbon nanofiber-Ru core-shell supports, an optimum loading of the Ru shell layer on the porous carbon nanofiber surface, and the high surface area of porous carbon nanofiber in the core region.