Holey platinum nanotubes for ethanol electrochemical reforming in aqueous solution

Bifunctional electrocatalyst Pt-hNTs are synthesized by a simple self-template pyrolysis method. Benefiting from the high ECSA, excellent self-stability, and fast mass transfer, Pt-hNTs show superior electroactivity and durability for both EOR and HER. The symmetric Pt-hNTs||Pt-hNTs ethanol electrolyzer only required 0.40 V to achieve j10 for H2 production, showing a highly energy saving strategy relative to traditional water electrolysis. [Display omitted] The catalytic/electrocatalytic performance of platinum (Pt) nanostructures highly relates to their morphology. Herein, we propose a facile self-template pyrolysis strategy at high temperature to synthesize one-dimensionally holey Pt nanotubes (Pt-hNTs) using PtII-dimethylglyoxime complex (PtII-DMG) nanorods as the reaction precursor. The coordination capability of DMG results in the generation of PtII-DMG nanorods, whereas the reducibility of DMG at high temperature leads to the reduction of PtII species in PtII-DMG nanorods. During the reaction process, the inside-out Ostwald ripening phenomenon leads to the hollow morphology of Pt-hNTs. Benefiting from the physical characteristics of hollow and holey structure, Pt-hNTs with clean surface show superior electroactivity and durability for catalyzing ethanol electrooxidation as well as hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media. Under optimized experimental conditions, the constructed symmetric Pt-hNTs||Pt-hNTs ethanol electrolyzer only requires an electrolysis voltage of 0.40 V to achieve the electrochemical hydrogen production, demonstrating a highly energy saving strategy relative to traditional water electrolysis.