Convenient immobilization of Pt-Sn bimetallic catalysts on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes for direct alcohol electrocatalytic oxidation.

Pt-Sn alloy nanoparticles were conveniently immobilized on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) through microwave-assisted ethylene glycol reduction. The nanoparticles have a narrow particle size distribution with the average particle size around 3 nm as measured by transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. The binding energy of metallic Sn passively shifts due to the charge transfer from Sn to Pt, as revealed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In comparison with the commercial Pt/C catalyst, Pt/NCNT presents a clear increase in activity for alcohol electro-oxidation due to the improved support, while the bimetallic Pt-Sn/NCNT has even higher activity owing to the alloying of Pt with Sn. Both Pt-Sn/NCNT and Pt/NCNT catalysts exhibit competitive long-term stability to Pt/C catalyst. The low cost, simple preparation and superior electrocatalytic performance indicate the great potential of Pt-Sn/NCNT in direct alcohol fuel cells.