Pt nanoparticles grown on 3D RuO2-modified graphene architectures for highly efficient methanol oxidation

Platinum-based electrode catalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction are at the heart of direct methanol fuel cell technology, while their high cost and short lifespan have greatly hindered their large-scale commercial application. Herein, we put forward a facile self-assembly approach to construct 3D porous electrocatalysts made from ultrafine Pt nanoparticles, RuO2 and graphene aerogels. Benefiting from the unique textural features as well as remarkable synergetic effect, the resulting 3D Pt/RuO2/graphene architectures possess exceptional electrocatalytic performance in terms of surprisingly high activity, strong anti-poisoning ability and reliable stability toward methanol electrooxidation, holding great potential as substitutes for conventional Pt/carbon catalysts. This study may offer new insights for the development of various 3D metal oxide-modified graphene supported catalysts for a wide range of applications in the near future.