Activity and Structure Analysis of Highly Functional Ru-Pt-Ni/AC Nanocatalysts for Efficient Glucose Electrooxidation

Abstract

A promising Ru-Pt-Ni/AC catalyst for direct glucose fuel cells was developed via the supercritical carbon dioxide deposition method which enabled a uniform distribution of metals, with an average particle size of 3.85 nm. The electrocatalytic activity and stability of the nanocatalysts for glucose electrooxidation were evaluated using chronoamperometry (CA), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) in alkaline media. Under these conditions, the catalyst exhibited a notably high specific activity of 3.98 mA·cm⁻2 for glucose electrooxidation, significantly surpassing the performance of conventional catalysts. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further confirmed the kinetic improvement, showing a clear reduction in charge transfer resistance with increasing potential. Complementary DFT calculations supported the experimental findings by evidencing modifications in surface electrophilicity and their role in activity enhancement. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.