Pt2SnCu nanoalloy with surface enrichment of Pt defects and SnO2 for highly efficient electrooxidation of ethanolElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4ta06695b

We artfully synthesized Pt defects and SnO 2 on the surface of a carbon-supported Pt 2 SnCu nanoalloy (Pt 2 SnCu-O-A/C) by in situ surface oxidation and acid treatment. The Pt 2 SnCu-O-A/C modified in this way exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activities for the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) in comparison to the commercial Pt/C and PtRu/C. The surface activity and mass activity are, respectively, 3.1 and 4.3 times greater than those of Pt/C. The enhanced activity for ethanol oxidation is attributed to the synergistic catalytic effect of Pt defects and SnO 2 . The Pt 2 SnCu-O-A/C with surface Pt defects and SnO 2 exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activities for ethanol oxidation in comparison to commercial catalysts. The synthesis method may provide new opportunities to fabricate hybrid nanostructures with interesting physicochemical properties.