Highly stable and efficient platinum nanoparticles supported on TiO2@Ru-C: investigations on the promoting effects of the interpenetrated TiO2

[Display omitted] •TiO2@Ru was synthesized by a modified polyol process followed by Pt deposition.•The average size of Ru and Pt was 1.5 and 2.3nm with uniform dispersion.•TiO2@Ru wedged in between carbon particles resulted in interpenetrated network.•Pt/TiO2@Ru-C showed high utilization efficiency and stability. Aimed at high Pt utilization efficiency and stability, Pt/TiO2@Ru-C electrocatalysts have been prepared by a two-stage modified polyol process, in which ruthenium nanoparticles are dotted on TiO2 nano-bricks to form TiO2@Ru in the first stage, followed by deposition of platinum nanoparticles on either the in-situ formed TiO2@Ru or carbon black in the second stage. The electrocatalysts have been characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction and Thermogravimetric analysis. The electrochemical surface area of the Pt/TiO2@Ru-C is 82.9m2g−1 and remains to as high as 44.8m2g−1 in an accelerated stability test. Catalytic activity towards methanol oxidation reaction of the catalyst in 0.5M CH3OH+0.5M H2SO4 at room temperature is found to be 487Ag−1. TiO2 nano-bricks are wedged in between the interfaces of carbon particles creating interpenetrated TiO2-Pt-C network, making them easily accessible to fuel cell reactions. Meanwhile, the interpenetrated TiO2 prevent the electrocatalyst from agglomeration, leading to high Pt efficiency as well as durability.