Electrocatalytic activity of Pt-ZrO sub(2) supported on different carbon materials for methanol oxidation in H sub(2)SO sub(4) solution

Different carbon supports are considered to prepare Pt-ZrO sub(2)/XC-72R carbon black, Pt-ZrO sub(2)/SWCNTs and Pt-ZrO sub(2)/MWCNTs electrocatalysts by a solid-state reaction under intermittent microwave heating method using ethylene glycol and NaBH sub(4) as mixed reducing agents. The prepared ele...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of hydrogen energy 2016-01, Vol.41 (3), p.1846-1858
Main Authors: Amin, R S, Fetohi, Amani E, Hameed, RMAbdel, El-Khatib, K M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbon
Carbon black
Carbon nanotubes
Electrocatalysts
Methyl alcohol
Oxidation
Platinum
Single wall carbon nanotubes
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Summary:Different carbon supports are considered to prepare Pt-ZrO sub(2)/XC-72R carbon black, Pt-ZrO sub(2)/SWCNTs and Pt-ZrO sub(2)/MWCNTs electrocatalysts by a solid-state reaction under intermittent microwave heating method using ethylene glycol and NaBH sub(4) as mixed reducing agents. The prepared electrocatalysts are physically characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Pt particle size decreases in the order: Pt-ZrO sub(2)/C > Pt-ZrO sub(2)/MWCNTs > Pt-ZrO sub(2)/SWCNTs. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are applied to investigate the electrochemical performance of the three electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation in H sub(2)SO sub(4) solution. CNTs supported electrocatalysts achieve increased methanol oxidation current density and improved stability behaviour during long-time operation when compared to the one containing carbon black. Pt-ZrO sub(2)/CNTs electrocatalyst also displays lower resistance and higher electrolyte diffusion rate to infer a faster charge transfer process and better electrode accessibility for methanol oxidation. Therefore, carbon nanotubes are suggested as ideal anode electrocatalyst supporting material for the practical application of direct methanol fuel cells. Physical and electrochemical characterization of Pt-ZrO sub(2)/SWCNTs electrocatalyst.
ISSN:0360-3199
DOI:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.11.040