Composite of Pt-Ru supported SnO2 nanowires grown on carbon paper for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol

Platinum-ruthenium (Pt-Ru) nanoparticles were successfully deposited, for the first time, on the surface of SnO2 nanowires grown directly on carbon paper (Pt-Ru/SnO2 NWs/carbon paper) by potentiostatic electrodeposition method. The resultant Pt-Ru/SnO2 NWs/carbon paper composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The electrocatalytic activities of these composite electrodes for methanol oxidation were investigated and higher mass and specific activities in methanol oxidation were exhibited as compared to Pt-Ru catalysts deposited on glassy carbon electrode. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.