Pt Nanoparticles Supported on Mesoporous Hollow TiO2@C Sphere Composite as Efficient Methanol Oxidation Reaction Electrocatalysts

The large-scale implementation of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) is significantly impeded by sluggish methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) kinetics, degradation of Pt electrocatalysts, and significant carbon support corrosion in commercial Pt/C. Herein, we design a mesoporous hollow TiO2@carbon core–shell composite (MH-TiO2@C) as a support for Pt nanoparticles to serve as an efficient MOR electrocatalyst. Pt/MH-TiO2@C demonstrates exceptional MOR activity in alkaline electrolyte, exhibiting a mass activity 2.56-fold higher than commercial Pt/C. Furthermore, Pt/MH-TiO2@C displays remarkable durability compared to Pt/C. Following chronoamperometry tests, the mass activity of Pt/MH-TiO2@C decreased by 30.92%, substantially lower than the 52.31% loss observed for commercial Pt/C. The superior MOR activity and durability originate from the inherent structural stability of the MH-TiO2@C composite, strong metal-support interaction between Pt and TiO2, and enhanced resistance to intermediate poisoning. This work presents a feasible strategy for developing efficient and durable Pt-based electrocatalysts, accelerating the commercialization of DMFCs.