A dendritic core–shell Cu@PtCu alloy electrocatalyst resulting in an enhanced electron transfer ability and boosted surface active sites for an improved methanol oxidation reaction

Abstract

We reported the design of a core–shell Cu@PtCu electrocatalyst consisting of dendritic PtCu alloy branches assembling on Cu core nanocrystals. The Cu@PtCu electrocatalyst shows superior electrocatalytic performance toward a methanol oxidation reaction. Its specific activity and mass activity can reach 3.56 mA cm⁻² and 1568 mA mg_Pt⁻¹, which are 4.8 and 7.1 times higher than those of a commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst.