Synthesis and characterization of PtSn/carbon and Pt3Sn/carbon nanocomposites as methanol electrooxidation catalysts.

Two Pt-Sn/vulcan carbon nanocomposites containing nanoclusters of PtSn (niggliite) and Pt3Sn highly dispersed on a carbon powder support have been prepared using Pt(SnPh2Cl)(PPh3)2(Ph) or [Pt3[mu-(PPh2)2CH2]3(mu 3-SnF3) (mu 3-CO)][PF6] as single-source precursors of metal alloy. PtP2 or Pt metal is also present as a secondary phase. Bimetallic Pt-Sn nanoclusters with an average diameter of 5-8 nm are formed at a total metal loading of ca. 15 wt%. Evaluation of both Pt-Sn/C nanocomposites as electrooxidation catalysts in a direct methanol fuel cell gives fuel cell performances comparable to that expected for Pt-Sn catalysts prepared by more conventional methods.