Preparation of Pt nanoparticle-loaded three-dimensional Fe3O4/carbon with high electro-oxidation activity

A three-dimensional (3D) Fe3O4/carbon material functionalized with amino and hydroxyl groups was synthesized by decomposing 2,4,5-trichlorophenol/ferrocene mixture in the presence of ammonia and polyethylene glycol in solvothermal conditions at 250 degrees C for 30 h by a one-step process. The 3D Fe3O4/carbon materials can be loaded with Pt nanoparticles without adding any reducing agent; Pt-loaded 3D Fe3O4/carbon hybrid materials have superior electrochemical catalytic activity toward methanol oxidation and the oxidation current density on them is nearly triple that on a commercial Pt/C catalyst. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.