Chemically designed CeO2 nanoboxes boost the catalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles toward electro-oxidation of formic acidElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6ta06339j

• Main Authors: Ramani, Swetha, Sarkar, Sumanta, Vemuri, Vamseedhara, Peter, Sebastian C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ta06339j

A comprehensive study was carried out on platinum nanoparticle decorated CeO 2 nanoboxes as an efficient catalyst towards electro-oxidation of formic acid. We herein report the effect of different parameters such as the size and shape of CeO 2 nanoboxes, thickness of the CeO 2 shell, mode of attachment of Pt nanoparticles on the CeO 2 surface and screening of Pt loading on the electro-oxidation of formic acid. A facile low temperature aqueous phase method was utilized for the synthesis of CeO 2 nanoboxes using Cu 2 O nanocubes as a soft sacrificial template. Owing to the exposed active surface area and optimum shell thickness, the smallest CeO 2 boxes loaded with Pt (50 nm) showed excellent activity for formic acid oxidation with a current density of 4.52 mA cm −2 . The highly porous hollow nanoboxes act as a bifunctional support for Pt nanoparticles. The catalyst also exhibited significant activity in the oxidation of other small molecules such as ethanol and methanol. CeO 2 nanoboxes designed by controlling various chemical parameters enhance both the efficiency and stability of Pt nanoparticles towards the electrochemical oxidation of formic acid.