Gold-decorated platinum nanoparticles in polyelectrolyte multilayers with enhanced catalytic activity for methanol oxidation

[Display omitted] •A new catalyst was developed for methanol oxidation.•Au-decorated-Pt nanoparticles were synthesized in situ in polymer film support.•The nanoparticles exhibited better electrocatalytic properties than monometallic Pt. In the development of commercial direct methanol fuel cells, search for alternative electrocatalysts for Pt with superior catalytic activity and long-term operation stability remains a major challenge. This paper reports the synthesis of Au-decorated-Pt (Pt^Au) nanoparticles in polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMUs) via ion-exchange/in situ reduction cycles in conjunction with a seed-mediated growth process. The structure of the Pt^Au nanoparticles in the PEMU was characterized by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and selected-area electron diffraction. The electrocatalytic performance of the nanoparticles for methanol oxidation reaction was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, and the results show that the Pt^Au nanoparticles exhibited better electrocatalytic efficiency, tolerance to poisoning and long-term stability compared with monometallic Pt, showing synergistic effects between the bimetallic components. The PEMU-supported Pt^Au nanoparticles may find application as an anode catalyst in direct methanol fuel cells.