Simple and Low-Cost Preparation Method for Highly Dispersed PtRu/C Catalysts

A low-cost impregnation method was developed to prepare PtRu catalysts highly dispersed on carbon support. As clearly revealed by the HRTEM image, even with high metal loadings (up to 40 wt % Pt + 20 wt % Ru) the average particle diameter was 1.5 nm with a narrow distribution (±0.5 nm). Based on EDAX, XRD, XPS, and TGA/DTA analyses, the structure of the PtRu catalyst was deduced to be composed of PtRu alloy and amorphous ruthenium compounds, predominantly hydrous ruthenium oxide, RuO x H y . The PtRu catalyst thus-prepared exhibited excellent performance for methanol oxidation.