Rapid one-step synthesis of carbon-supported platinum-copper nanoparticles with enhanced electrocatalytic activity via microwave-assisted heating.

The use of simple, fast, and inexpensive methods to synthesize nanocomposites is essential for large-scale production and applications. Microwave heating has been recognized as a promising method to attain higher reaction rates; this approach allows to complete new reactions in a short period of time. Therefore, carbon-supported platinum-copper nanoparticles (Pt-Cu NPs/C) were synthesized by microwave-assisted heating within few minutes. Detailed electrochemical studies showed that Pt-Cu NPs/C exhibited higher performance for ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) than Pt/C. After 1000 sweeping cycles, the highest retention mass activity of EOR and MOR of PtCu NPs/C showed that catalysts had good stability. In this study, a new approach for boosting the efficiency of industrial production of nanomaterial catalysts by rapid microwave heating was developed.