Excellent electrocatalysis of methanol oxidation on platinum nanoparticles supported on carbon-coated silicon

Abstract The prepared carbon-coated silicon (Si@C) material was blended with graphite powder together to form the specific carbon paste electrode with different mass percent X% of Si@C (CPE-Si@C(X%)). The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was performed on the prepared CPE-Si@C and the pure carbon paste electrode (CPE), and the results show that the CPE-Si@C (X%) electrode has a smaller charge transfer resistance. Pt/CPE and Pt/CPE-Si@C(X%) electrodes were prepared by electrodepositing Pt particles on CPE-Si@C and CPE, and the obtained electrodes were used for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol in acid media. The results show that the activity of Pt/CPE-Si@C(X%) electrode for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol was higher than that of Pt/CPE electrode, and the mass peak current density of Pt/CPE-Si@C(10%) electrode for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol reached 321 mA mg−1, which was 1.8 times higher than that of Pt/CPE electrode. The Pt/CPE-Si@C (10%) electrode and the Pt/CPE electrode were characterized by chronoamperometry. The results show that Pt/CPE-Si@C (10%) has a better stability of activity and stronger tolerance against CO poisoning.