Structurally-supported PtCuCo nanoframes as efficient bifunctional catalysts for oxygen reduction and methanol oxidation reactions

PtCuCo nanoframes with internal structural support exhibit superior activity and durability for both of ORR and MOR. [Display omitted] •PtCuCo nanoframes with internal structural support were prepared via a facile approach.•The inner-positioned structural support can boost the structural robustness.•PtCuCo nanoframes showed outstanding activity and durability in both ORR and MOR. Developing highly durable and active catalysts with the morphology of structurally robust nanoframes toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in acidic environment is crucial but still a great challenge to completely achieve in a single material. Herein, PtCuCo nanoframes (PtCuCo NFs) with internal support structures as enhanced bifunctional electrocatalysts were prepared by a facile one-pot approach. PtCuCo NFs exhibited remarkable activity and durability for ORR and MOR owing to the ternary compositions and the structure-fortifying frame structures. Impressively, the specific/mass activity of PtCuCo NFs were 12.8/7.5 times as large as that of commercial Pt/C for ORR in perchloric acid solution. For MOR in sulfuric acid solution, the mass/specific activity of PtCuCo NFs was 1.66 A mgPt-1/4.24 mA cm−2, which was 5.4/9.4 times as large as that of Pt/C. This work may provide a promising nanoframe material to develop dual catalysts for fuel cells.