Core/shell Pt/C nanoparticles embedded in mesoporous carbon as a methanol-tolerant cathode catalyst in direct methanol fuel cells

Pt nanoparticles covered with a film of microporous carbon (Pt@C) were uniformly embedded in mesoporous carbon (MC; see schematic) by in situ deposition of Pt and glucose polymerization in the pores of mesoporous silica (SBA-15), which was subsequently removed by etching. The nanometer-scale hybrid material shows superior catalytic performance for methanol-tolerant oxygen electroreduction.