AUTHOR=Ai Tianyu , Bao Shuo , Lu Jinlin 

TITLE=Core-Shell Structured PtxMoy@TiO2 Nanoparticles Synthesized by Reverse Microemulsion for Methanol Electrooxidation of Fuel Cells

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2021.667754

DOI=10.3389/fchem.2021.667754

ISSN=2296-2646

ABSTRACT=<p>The high price of catalyst and poor durability still restrict the development of fuel cells. In this work, core-shell structured Pt<sub>x</sub>Mo<sub>y</sub>@TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles with low Pt content are prepared by a reverse microemulsion method. The morphologies, particle size, structure, and composition of Pt<sub>x</sub>Mo<sub>y</sub>@TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles are examined by several techniques such as X-ray Diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, etc. The Pt<sub>x</sub>Mo<sub>y</sub>@TiO<sub>2</sub> electrocatalysts show significantly higher catalytic activity and better durability for methanol oxidation than the commercial Pt/C (ETEK). Compared to Pt/C catalyst, the enhancement of the electrochemical performance of Pt<sub>x</sub>Mo<sub>y</sub>@TiO<sub>2</sub> electrocatalysts can be attributed to the core-shell structure and the shift of the d-band center of Pt atoms, which can weaken the adsorption strength toward CO molecules, facilitate the removal of the CO groups and improve electrocatalytic activity. The development of Pt<sub>x</sub>Mo<sub>y</sub>@TiO<sub>2</sub> electrocatalysts is promising to reduce the use of noble metal Pt and has a great potential for application in fuel cells.</p>