Recent advances in two-dimensional Pt based electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction

Abstract Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) had been attracted considerable attention for its advantages of high energy density, simplified systems and readily transportation and storage of methanol. However, the notoriously sluggish kinetics of methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) of the anode reaction, had greatly affected the commercialization of DMFCs. On one hand, Pt based catalyst are still the most effective MOR catalysts, while the high cost caused by the high loadings of electrocatalyst to compensate the low MOR activity impedes the wide accessible of DMFCs. In addition, the occurrence of catalyst poisoning owing to the strong interaction between Pt and carbon monoxide (CO) generated during the MOR processing, further leading to the fast decay in the performance and stability of MOR electrocatalysts. Two-dimensional (2D) Pt based nanostructures is regarded to be one promising and effective class of MOR electrocatalysts, and attracted much attention due to the high electron mobility, highly exposed active sites, and extraordinary thermal conduction. In this review, the mechanism of MOR was firstly introduced, and then the synthesis conditions, structure characteristics and methanol oxidation performances both in acidic and alkaline dielectric of 2D Pt based nanocatalysts were introduced. Subsequently, we briefly analyzed the structural characteristics of 2D Pt based nanocatalysts and their advantages, including the low platinum loadings, high specific surface area and majority of atomic active sites exposed. Finally, the opportunities and challenges for designing of advanced 2D Pt based nanocatalysts was proposed and discussed.