Promoting electrocatalytic methanol oxidation of platinum nanoparticles by cerium modification

The improvement of performance for Pt-based electrocatalysts is of significant importance. Here we synthesized a Ce-modified Pt nanoparticle (NP) with Cerium (III) oxygenated species (1 wt% Ce content) anchored on Pt NPs for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). High-angle annular dark field-scanning transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy were combined to prove and analyze this special structure. Surprisingly, the electrocatalytic activity of the Ce-modified Pt NPs for MOR reached 1470 mA/mg-Pt and 8670 mA/mg-Pt in acidic and alkaline media, respectively, which were superior to those of the Pt NPs/C and commercial Pt/C. Density functional calculations showed that the structure of Pt surface was deformed by the modification of Cerium, which made CO* + OH* bind more strongly, and the stronger anchoring of OH* induced the easier removal of CO* in the potential determining step. This work would provide an effective strategy to develop efficient MOR electrocatalysts.