Three dimensional graphene foam supported platinum–ruthenium bimetallic nanocatalysts for direct methanol and direct ethanol fuel cell applications

A novel composite material of hierarchically structured platinum–ruthenium (PtRu) nanoparticles grown on large surface area three dimensional graphene foam (3D GF) is reported. 3D GF was incorporated with PtRu bimetallic nanoparticles as an electrochemical nanocatalyst for methanol and ethanol oxidation. PtRu/3D GF nanocatalyst showed a higher tolerance to poisoning by CO and exhibited improved catalytic activity for both methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) results and long-term cycling stability tests demonstrated that GF provided a promising platform for the development of electrochemical nanocatalysts. Specifically, PtRu/3D GF nanocatalyst showed excellent catalytic activity toward MOR and EOR compared with PtRu/Graphene (Commercial graphene), PtRu/C (Vulcan XC-72R carbon), and PtRu alone. The crystal size of PtRu on 3D GF was reduced to 3.5 nm and its active surface area was enhanced to 186.2 m2 g−1. Consequently, the MOR and EOR rates were nearly doubled on PtRu/3D GF compared to those on PtRu/Graphene. •3D graphene foam was used as the scaffold for the deposition of PtRu nanoparticles.•PtRu/3D graphene foam nanocatalyst showed excellent catalytic activity performance.•PtRu/3D graphene foam nanocatalyst exhibited a higher tolerance to poisoning CO.