Influence of the preparation method on Pt3Cu/C electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

Pt3Cu nanoparticles are deposited on multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) according to three different types of synthesis: a thermal reduction using an aprotic solvent (“thermal method”, TM), a chemical reduction using sodium borohydride (“chemical method”, CM), and an alloying method (the “alloying method”, AM). The catalysts are characterized by means of BET, FESEM, EDX, XRD, ICP-MS and XPS analyses. The obtained catalysts display a Pt loading of 19.6–19.8 wt.%, with a Pt/Cu atomic ratio of 2.60–2.80. The electrocatalytic activity towards ORR is assessed by RDE in acid conditions (0.1 M HClO4). The best activity belongs to the Pt3Cu/C catalyst prepared by chemical reduction method (–10.300 mA mgPt).