Nanostructured platinum/iron phosphate thin-film electrodes for methanol oxidation

Nanostructured Pt-FePO4 thin-film electrodes consisting of Pt nanocrystals and amorphous FePO4 were fabricated by cosputtering, and nanocomposites containing similar to 3 or similar to 5 nm Pt crystalline phases were obtained. Compared with the pure Pt electrodes, the Pt-FePO4 electrodes containing similar to 3 nm Pt nanophases showed a significantly high efficiency, stability, and low charge-transfer resistance for methanol oxidation. The improved catalytic activities of the Pt-FePO4 thin-film electrodes can be attributed to both an increase in the active surface area, and the possible ability of FePO4 for the effective transfer of protons and the CO oxidation during methanol oxidation. (c) 2006 The Electrochemical Society.