High stability of oxidation of methanol catalyzed by Pt supported by oxygen-incorporated bamboo-shaped CNTs grown directly on carbon cloth

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 37; no. 14; pp. 10663 - 10670
• Main Authors: Wang, Chen-Hao, Du, He-Yun, Hsu, Hsin-Cheng, Chang, Sun-Tang, Huang, Hsin-Chih, Chen, Li-Chyong, Chen, Kuei-Hsien
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Bamboo-shaped structure; Carbon nanotube; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Fuels; Hydrogen; Methanol oxidation reaction; Oxygen incorporation; Carbon nanotube; Methanol oxidation reaction; Oxygen incorporation; Bamboo-shaped structure; Fuel cells; Plasma; Stability; Hydrogen; Carbon nanotubes; Long term; Indicator; Sulfuric acid; Crystalline material; Cyclic voltammetry; Transmission electron microscopy; Platinum; Oxidation; Current density; Catalyst; Comparative study; Fuel cell; Methanol
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.04.086

Bamboo-shaped CNTs in which oxygen was incorporated were directly grown on carbon cloth (O-BCNT-CC) by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Mixed precursors CH4/H2/N2/O2 were introduced during the growth process. For comparison, bamboo-shaped CNTs without incorporated oxygen were prepared herein (BCNT-CC). Then, platinum catalysts were prepared on the as-grown O-BCNT-CC (Pt/O-BCNT-CC) and the as-grown BCNT-CC (Pt/BCNT-CC). According to TEM-EELS oxygen mapping, O atoms were uniformly distributed on the O-BCNT surface. Methanol oxidation was performed using Pt/O-BCNT-CC and Pt/BCNT-CC in 1 M methanol and 1 M sulfuric acid by cyclic voltammetry. In the initial cycle, the peak current density of Pt/O-BCNT-CC was almost equal to that of Pt/BCNT, indicating that both had nearly equal activities in the beginning. After 300 cycles, the peak current of Pt/BCNT-CC was reduced to half of the initial peak current owing to platinum-poisoning; however, the peak current of Pt/O-BCNT-CC decayed less. In Pt/O-BCNT-CC, the oxygen-containing functional groups affect the orientation index of crystalline Pt, providing a means of oxidizing methanol and stabilizing Pt catalysts for the long-term. ► Pt/O-BCNT-CC has higher high stability of MOR than Pt/BCNT-CC. ► O atoms distributed on the O-BCNT are uniformly observed by TEM mapping. ► O atoms on the CNTs can strengthen the interaction between the Pt and methanol.