Electrocatalytic activity of Pt and bimetallic PtRu nanoparticles (both Vulcan supported and unsupported) toward electrooxidation of dimethyl ether (DME), a potential small organic molecule fuel, in an acid medium (0.5 mol dm⁻³ H₂SO₄) has been significantly enhanced by dispersing them over a thin film of zirconia (ZrO₂). The enhancement effects concern increases of the DME electrocatalytic current densities recorded under both cyclic voltammetric and chronoamperometric conditions. Similar effects have been observed for the oxidation of methanol. Regarding the dissimilar DME electrooxidation mechanisms at Pt and PtRu catalytic centers, the activating capabilities of zirconia seem to originate from the high population of reactive –OH groups favoring mobility of protons and the capability of inducing the oxidative removal of poisoning (CO-type) intermediates both at platinum and ruthenium catalytic sites. In the presence of the zirconia matrix, the onset potential for the oxidation of DME (particularly at PtRu) is shifted more than 50 mV toward less positive potentials. Mutual metal-support interactions are also postulated.

在酸性介质（0.5 mol dm ^-3 H ₂ SO ₄）中，Pt和双金属PtRu纳米颗粒（Vulcan负载和不负载）对二甲醚（DME）（一种潜在的小分子有机燃料）的电氧化的电催化活性均得到显着提高。通过将它们分散在氧化锆（ZrO ₂）。增强效应涉及在循环伏安法和计时电流法条件下记录的DME电催化电流密度的增加。对于甲醇的氧化已经观察到类似的效果。关于Pt和PtRu催化中心不同的DME电氧化机理，氧化锆的活化能力似乎源自大量的反应性–OH基团，有利于质子的迁移以及诱导中毒（CO型）中间体的氧化去除的能力。在铂和钌催化位点上。在存在氧化锆基质的情况下，DME氧化的起始电位（尤其是在PtRu处）向大于正电位的方向偏移了超过50 mV。还假定了金属与载体之间的相互作用。