Engineering low platinum loaded defects enriched PtxCo wrapped by carbon layers for efficient methanol electrooxidation with CO-free dominant

Constructing robust nanomaterials with surface defects is a promise way for high-efficiency methanol electrocatalysis together with minimizing poisoning of adsorbed CO. To this end, low platinum (Pt) loaded (6% wt) defects enriched PtCo alloy wrapped by carbon layers (V-Pt x Co@NC/C) enabled via facile pyrolysis . In the pyrolysis process, the metal salts are subjected to alloying and dealloying process under high temperature annealing combined with etching treatment to construct defects and boundaries enriched PtCo alloy. These defects and boundaries enriched structure can provide abundant active edge atoms with low coordination numbers as well as are beneficial for more exposed active sites of Pt, rendering the large electrochemical surface areas and changing the reaction properties for intermediates of methanol oxidation . In-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy shows that the catalyst follows direct HCOO − pathway with CO-free dominant. Thus, presenting excellent mass activity (1328 mA mg −1 Pt ) in acid medium. Moreover, benefiting from the protection of carbon layers, possible dissolution of metallic can be diminished. Therefore, the catalyst delivers superhigh stability and can maintain 80% of mass activity after 1000 cycles. This work poses a new avenue for the design of cost-effective catalyst.