Core–shell Pd–P@Pt–Ni nanoparticles with enhanced activity and durability as anode electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation reaction

Pd–P@Pt–Ni core–shell nanoparticles, which consisted of a Pd–P alloy as a core and Pt–Ni thin layer as a shell, were explored as electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction. The crystallographic information and the electronic properties were fully investigated by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In the methanol electrooxidation reaction, the particles showed high catalytic activity and strong resistance to the poisoning carbonaceous species in comparison with those of commercial Pt/C and the as-prepared Pt/C catalysts. The excellent durability was demonstrated by electrochemically active surface area loss and chronoamperometric measurements. These results would be due to the enhanced catalytic properties of Pt by the double synergistic effects from the core part and the nickel species in the shell part.