Efficient biomass-derived catalysts for alkaline short-chain alcohols electroreforming: A focus on low platinum loading

Materials based on low Pt content have been exhaustively studied as hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts. However, the study of these materials for electroreforming applications is limited because of the low methanol tolerance of Pt. Furthermore, the preparation methods usually imply several synthesis steps that put a brake on the production scaling up. In this work, an electrocatalyst prepared by a one-pot approach from a biomass residue (almond shells) based on Pt-Fe nanoparticle alloys is proposed as an efficient cathode catalyst for methanol electroreforming. The characterization of the material showed the formation of homogeneously distributed nanoparticles and a high volume of mesopores. Although the performance compared to a Pt/C cathode (∼0.5 mg Pt cm −2 ) at 30 °C was lower, the current reached at 0.9 V at 60 °C was equivalent using lower Pt loading (∼0.1 mg Pt cm −2 ). A 30 h durability test indicated high degradation for Pt/C because of agglomeration while no important modifications were detected for the biomass-derived material. • Pt-Fe alloys are proposed as an efficient cathode catalyst in a methanol electroreforming cell. • A one-pot approach starting from a biomass residue (almond shells) was used for catalyst preparation. • High activity for hydrogen evolution, high methanol tolerance and good durability were observed.