Self-assembled platinum-tungsten carbide (Pt-WC)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) electrocatalysts for ethanol electro-oxidation in acid medium

The design of a high-performance, durable and low-cost catalyst for direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) applications is an eternal pursuit for researchers in the materials field. In this work, a kind of novel platinum-tungsten carbide (Pt-WC)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) electrocatalyst with different WC loadingsis prepared by self-assembly technology for ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). The electrochemical performance and stability of Pt-WC/MWCNTs electrocatalysts toward EOR are investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The mass activity of Pt-WC0.15/MWCNTs electrocatalyst for EOR is 581.94 mA mg-1Pt, which is 1.33 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C (ETEK). The significant enhancement can be attributed to the more exposed active sites and the synergistic effect between Pt and WC. The Pt-WCx/MWCNTs are a kind of excellent and effective electrocatalyst for EOR, which has a broad application prospect in fuel cells.