Enhancing by Weakening: Electrooxidation of Methanol on Pt₃Co and Pt Nanocubes

Loaded dice: High-quality and similarly sized Pt3Co and Pt nanocubes were prepared by gradually reducing metal precursors at high temperatures. Cyclic voltammetric and chronoamperometric results show a much higher methanol oxidation current density on Pt3Co nanocubes (see picture). The enhanced catalytic activity was explained by the slower and weaker adsorption of CO onto Pt3Co.