AuPt Nanoparticles Clusters on MWCNTs with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity for Methanol Oxidation

Changzheng Wang,Tao Guo,Fengnan Yang,Yongfeng Liu,Shoufang Xu,Lian Zhou,Louzhen Fan,Li Gao,Yang Zhang

doi:10.3390/catal8120669

Abstract

AuPt nanoparticles clusters (NPCs) were electrodeposited on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The as-prepared AuPt NPCs@MWCNTs nanocomposites exhibited considerably enhanced electrocatalytic activity than Pt NPs@MWCNTs for methanol oxidation in acid medium. In comparison with Pt NPs@MWCNTs, a remarkable resistance to CO poisoning and a higher If/Ib value (the ratio of the forward scan oxidation peak current (If) and reverse scan oxidation peak current (Ib)) was achieved by AuPt NPCs@MWCNTs electrocatalyst, which is attributable to the unique NPCs nanostructure with enlarged electrochemical active surface areas. These results demonstrated the potential of AuPt NPCs@MWCNTs, which can be considered as an efficient electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells.

Highlights

Methanol oxidation [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11] is considered to be one of the environmental-friendly and sustainable source of energy, in which the methanol is supplied directly to the electrode where it is converted to carbon dioxide
The morphology of AuPt nanoparticles clusters (NPCs) on the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization
The amount and size of AuPt NPCs can be tuned by increasing different electrodeposition times

Summary

Introduction

Methanol oxidation [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11] is considered to be one of the environmental-friendly and sustainable source of energy, in which the methanol is supplied directly to the electrode where it is converted to carbon dioxide. Methanol oxidation can directly convert the chemical energy of methanol into electrical energy, and the reaction products are mainly water and carbon dioxide. The large-scale applications of methanol oxidation have been considerably restricted by the high cost and low abundance of Pt and other noble-metal based electrocatalysts, and unsolved problems, such as Pt poisoning.

Results

Discussion

Conclusion