Nanopores array of ordered mesoporous carbons determine Pt's activity towards alcohol electrooxidation

A nanopores array in ordered mesoporous materials matters significantly to the reactant molecules arriving at the active catalytic sites in the interior of the nanostructure. However, how this effect works in the case of electrocatalysis needs investigating. We present that the nanopores array of carbon supports plays a significant role in determining Pt's accessibility and electroactivity. The ordered mesoporous carbons with interconnected pore channels (CMK-3) provide Pt nanoparticles with more than one order of magnitude superior Pt utilization efficiency and alcohol electrooxidation activity to those with isolated pore channels by carbon wall (FDU-15). This becomes more prominent in the case of the electrooxidation of isopropanol with a bigger molecular size and lower polarization. These findings indicate the significant role of nanoarchitectures in Pt's accessibility and electroactivity. It is possible to extend this concept to the other fine chemistry typical of surface activity and facile mass transport of molecules.