Boosting Pt Utilization via PtTe 2 Nanoshells for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

ABSTRACT Boosting Pt efficiency for direct methanol fuel cells is the key to pushing methanol‐economic sustainable development. Herein, ultrathin PtTe 2 nanoshells grown on Te nanorods (Te@PtTe 2 ) were found to be highly efficient for electrochemical methanol energy conversion in fuel‐cell devices. This unique core–shell structure imparts the catalyst with high active edge sites exposure and high Pt utilization efficiency, but with low Pt loading of 5 wt.%. The peak mass activity of about 3.4 A mg Pt −1 was more than 16 and 6 times that of the commercial Pt/C and PtRu/C (both 20 wt.% Pt). Fundamentally, in situ spectroscopic studies and theoretical calculations reveal that the PtTe 2 shells can facilitate a predominantly direct pathway with HCOOH as the intermediate for methanol oxidation by reducing the CO poisoning effect largely. Practically, this catalyst achieved a peak power density of 1.5 W mg Pt −1 , which is about 6.0 and 8.8 times that of PtRu/C (0.25 W mg Pt −1 ) and Pt/C (0.17 W mg Pt −1 )‐based counterparts, respectively. The work offers a promising platform for cost‐effective clean energy conversion by increasing the Pt intrinsic activity and utilization, but with low Pt loading.