High performance of carbon nanowall supported Pt catalyst for methanol electro-oxidation

• Published in: Carbon (New York) Vol. 50; no. 10; pp. 3731 - 3738
• Main Authors: Zhang, Chengxu, Hu, Jue, Wang, Xiangke, Zhang, Xiaodong, Toyoda, Hirotaka, Nagatsu, Masaaki, Meng, Yuedong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Carbon; Catalysis; Catalysts; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; electrochemistry; Electrodes; electron transfer; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; General and physical chemistry; Materials science; methanol; Methyl alcohol; nanofibers; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; oxidation; particle size distribution; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Physics; Platinum; scanning electron microscopy; Specific materials; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; transmission electron microscopy; vapors; Plasma; Histogram; Nanofiber; Supported catalyst; Sputtering; Alcohols; Electrodes; Nanoparticles; Fuel cells; Alkanol; Oxidation; Structure; Diameter; Methanol; Scanning electron microscopy; Catalytic reaction; Electrochemical activity; Carbon; CVD; Heterogeneous catalysis; Particle size distribution; Transmission electron microscopy; Potentials; Catalyst supports; Frequency; Transport; Electrons
• ISSN: 0008-6223; 1873-3891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2012.03.047

The performance of Pt catalyst supported on carbon nanowall (CNW) and vertically aligned carbon nanofiber (VACNF) for methanol electro-oxidation has been compared. Pt/CNW and Pt/VACNF electrodes were fabricated by growing CNW and VACNF on carbon papers with inductively coupled plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, followed by sputter deposition of Pt nanoparticles using a radio-frequency magnetron sputtering system. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy results show that the Pt nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed on the surface of CNW and VACNF. The histograms of Pt nanoparticle diameter for both electrodes reveal that the Pt/CNW electrode shows a broader particle size distribution. Cyclic voltammetric measurements show that the Pt/CNW electrode has a better electrochemical activity and methanol oxidation property than Pt/VACNF electrode. The unique structure of CNW ensures that Pt/CNW electrode has a faster electron transport rate and shorter electron transport path, which lead to an obvious improvement of electro-catalysis activity compared to the Pt/VACNF electrode and show a further potential application in direct alcohol fuel cells.