Effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with different specific surface areas on the stability of supported Pt catalysts

Abstract

Pt/MCNTs catalysts have been synthesized by the microwave-assisted polyol process (MAPP). Effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) with different specific surface areas on the stability of supported Pt catalysts has been investigated. The obtained Pt/MCNTs catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammograms (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and accelerated potential cycling tests (APCT) to present the stability of the catalysts. The experimental results indicate that the original electrochemically active specific surface areas (ESA) and the activity for methanol electrooxidation of the catalysts decrease with the decreasing of the specific surface areas of MCNTs, and the Pt/MCNTs-250 (MCNTs with pristine specific surface of 250 m2 g−1, below the same) catalysts show the best initial electrochemical activity. However, the activity of the Pt/MCNTs-250 is very close to that of the Pt/MCNTs-120 and the stability of the Pt/MCNTs-60 catalyst is the best after 1000 cycles APCT. Considering the factors of the activity and stability comprehensively, the optimized specific surface area of MCNTs in the Pt/MCNTs catalysts is 120 m2 g−1.