Rapid and facile CuCl assistant synthesis of PtCu 3 nanoframes as efficient catalysts for electroxidation of methanol

Abstract

Hollow-structured nanomaterials generally showed enhanced catalytic abilities due to their high utilization. In this work, a general method for the synthesis of PtCu₃ nanoframes was reported with the employment of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), copper(I) chloride, and various kinds of platinum precursors such as K₂PtCl₆, H₂PtCl₆, and Pt(acac)₂. It was revealed that the presence of CTAC was crucial for the formation of frame structures. On the one hand, CTAC could act as a structure director, and on the other hand, the galvanic replacement and etching effect of the chloride ions together with oxygen was also responsible for the formation of the frame structure. A similar effect was also evidenced in the case of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. Finally, the as-obtained PtCu₃ nanoframes demonstrated high catalytic abilities in the oxidation of methanol as a model reaction.

Graphical abstract

PtCu₃ nanoframes were readily synthesized by CuCl and various Pt precursors in olemaine in the presence of hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride or hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide as additives in relatively short reaction time via etching. The as-obtained PtCu₃ nanoframes demonstrated high catalytic abilities in oxidation of methanol.

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