Ultrafast synthesis of efficient TS-PtCoCu/CNTs composite with high feed-to-product conversion rate by Joule heating for electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol

A series of PtCoCu ternary nanoalloys decorated carbon nanotube composites (TS-PtCoCu/CNTs) were synthesized by a facile ultrafast thermal shock strategy via Joule heating. The synthesized TS-PtCoCu/CNTs achieved superb catalytic activity toward EOR. An underlying EOR catalytic mechanism of PtCoCu/CNTs was put forward as follows: (i) The small and good dispersed ternary Pt-Co-Cu nanoparticles, the CNT supports and the lattice defects/atomic steps synergistically contribute to the superior catalytic activity and stability. (ii) The incorporation of Co-Cu results in the downshifted d-band center of Pt and enhanced anti-poisoning ability toward CO. (iii) The Co-Cu atoms efficiently assist the adsorption of OH, leading to the preferable C1 reaction path. [Display omitted] •TS-PtCoCu/CNTs was obtained via an ultrafast thermal shock (TS) synthesis.•TS synthesis enables high load and uniform dispersion of nanosized PtCoCu alloys.•TS-PtCoCu/CNTs displays high activity and long stability toward EOR.•Incorporation of Co/Cu atoms into Pt lattice results in downshifted d-band center.•DFT calculations reveals weakened CO adsorption, increased OH affinity and optimized C1 path. Due to the challenges involved in achieving high metal load, uniform metal dispersion and nanosized metal particles simultaneously, it is difficult to develop a simple protocol for the rapid and efficient synthesis of Pt-based composites for electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). In this study, a facile ultrafast thermal shock strategy via Joule heating was applied to fabricate a series of PtCoCu ternary nanoalloys decorated carbon nanotube composites (TS-PtCoCu/CNTs), without the need for a reducing agent or surfactant. The TS-PtCoCu/CNTs with optimal Pt content (∼15 %) exhibited excellent EOR activity, with mass and specific activity of 3.58 A mgPt−1 and 5.79 mA cm−2, respectively, which are 3.8 and 13.5 times higher than those of Pt/C. Compared with the control prepared through the traditional furnace annealing, the catalyst also showed excellent activity and stability. DFT calculations revealed that the TS-PtCoCu/CNTs possesses a downshifted d-band center, weakened CO adsorption and higher OH affinity compared with monometallic Pt, all of which lead to the preferred C1 pathway for EOR. This study demonstrates an ultrafast construction of a highly efficient Pt-Co-Cu ternary catalyst for EOR. Additionally, it provides insights into the reaction mechanism based on structural characte