A Highly Stable PtPd Alloy Supported on CeO2-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes for Methanol Oxidation

Methanol has gained prominence as a carbon-neutral energy vector due to its remarkable energy density and versatile electrochemical conversion capabilities. Nevertheless, the practical implementation of methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) technologies faces a critical bottleneck in developing durable precious-metal-based catalysts that maintain structural integrity under operational conditions. Herein, we engineer a heterostructured electrocatalyst through precise surface composition tuning of Pt–Pd alloys coupled with CeO₂ functionalization, establishing an optimized synergy between compositional engineering and support interactions. The strategically designed Pt–Pd bimetallic nanoparticles, homogeneously dispersed on a CeO₂-decorated carbon nanotube, demonstrate exceptional alkaline methanol oxidation performance with a record mass activity of 5600.0 mA·mg_metal^–1 accompanied by outstanding operational stability (1810.2 mA·mg_metal^–1 retention after 7200 s). Multidisciplinary characterization reveals that the synergistic effects at the PtPd/CeO₂–CNT interfaces facilitate optimized CH₃OH adsorption and preferentially activate the CO-tolerant reaction pathway. This work establishes a generalizable paradigm for developing poisoning-resistant alloy catalysts through rational interfacial engineering in hybrid support systems, paving the way for practical methanol fuel cell applications.