RuTe/M (M = Pt, Pd) nanoparticle nanotubes with enhanced electrocatalytic activity

Abstract

In this report, a novel and general strategy for the synthesis of multicomponent RuTe/M (M = Pt, Pd, PdPt, PdAu) nanoparticle nanotubes with high quality and high aspect ratio is demonstrated. RuTe nanotubes are obtained at the first step by employing Te nanowires as the template through hydrothermal treatment in ethylene glycol. Further, through the controlled, heterogeneous, epitaxial growth of noble metals on the RuTe nanotubes, various noble metal-based nanotubes can be synthesized. This method affords high-yield synthesis of multicomponent noble metal nanotubes with ultra-long lengths. The structure and composition of the as-prepared nanomaterials are characterized using various methods. The as-prepared nanotubes show high mass activity toward methanol/ethanol electrooxidation, which is much higher than that of commercial catalyst and most of the previously reported results. Such high catalytic activity gives them potential as efficient and widely used anode catalysts for fuel cells.