Surface platinum-rich CuPt bimetallic nanoparticles supported by partially unzipped vapor grown carbon fibers and their electrocatalytic activities

Abstract

Here we prepare the CuPt/PUVGCF catalyst made of surface platinum-rich CuPt nanoparticles anchored on partially unzipped vapor grown carbon fibers (PUVGCFs) as an anode catalyst for fuel cells. Longitudinal unzipping of vapor grown carbon fibers (VGCFs) can result in a combination structure of one-dimensional VGCF and two-dimensional graphene, inheriting good solubility and dispersity from VGCFs and large surface area from graphene, thus a more integrated combination with CuPt nanoparticles. Electrochemical measurements show the CuPt/PUVGCF catalyst has superior catalytic activity and stability for methanol and ethanol electrooxidation compared to that of CuPt/VGCF, which may be a consequence of the mutual effects of the CuPt bimetallic interaction and the excellent properties of PUVGCFs.