One-step fabrication of ordered Pt-Cu alloy nanotube arrays for ethanol electrooxidation

Novel one dimensional (1D) nanostructured metallic electrodes have received much attention in the area of the fuel cell because of their extremely high surface-to-volume ratios and excellent activities. Here, we report the one-step fabrication of Pt-Cu alloy nanotube arrays. As determined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, ordered Pt-Cu alloy nanotubes have been successfully fabricated utilizing a nanochannel alumina template. The electrocatalytic activities of the Pt-Cu alloy nanotubes for the oxidation of ethanol in acidic medium were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The results show that the Pt-Cu alloy nanotubes can be used as effective electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation in direct alcohol fuel cells