Monodisperse FePt nanoparticles as highly active electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation

Abstract

Face-centered tetragonal (fct) FePt nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by a new and facile approach based on a reverse microemulsion method. TEM results exhibited that highly dispersed FePt nanoparticles with sizes of about 3 nm and a narrow size distribution can be achieved by this process. These fct FePt nanoparticles exhibited greatly enhanced catalytic activity towards the electro-oxidation of methanol compared with either Pt-based (Co, Ni) or Pt catalysts prepared by the same method owing to the unique core–shell structure and properties of Fe atoms. FePt nanoparticles wrapped in NaCl formed a core–shell structure, which prevents the nanoparticles form sintering and growth under high temperature calcination and ensured high monodispersity and size uniformity of the FePt nanoparticles. The synthesis provides an indication for future development of multicomponent nanoparticles for advanced catalytic applications.