Abstract
PtRu nanoparticles with a diameter of 10–15 nm were electrodeposited within multiwalled carbon nanotube‐Nafion (MWCNT‐Nafion) nanocomposite. The formation of PtRu nanoparticles in MWCNT‐Nafion nanocomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The electrocatalytic activity towards the methanol electrooxidation at PtRu‐MWCNT‐Nafion and Pt‐MWCNT‐Nafion nanocomposite‐modified glassy carbon electrodes was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The results indicated that the PtRu‐MWCNT‐Nafion nanocomposite was electrocatalytically more active than Pt‐MWCNT‐Nafion nanocomposite. The effect of atomic ratio of Pt : Ru on the electrocatalytic ability towards the methanol electrooxidation was investigated in order to achieve a high catalyst use. The PtRu bimetallic catalyst with 1 : 1 atomic ratio showed better electrocatalytic activity towards the methanol electrooxidation. The stability for the methanol electrooxidation at PtRu‐MWCNT‐Nafion nanocomposite modified was also investigated.
Highlights
Direct methanol fuel cell is an attractive power source for portable power applications and in electrical vehicles [1]
The electrodeposition of PtRu nanoparticles in MWCNT-Nafion nanocomposite was investigated by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) was used to confirm the PtRu composition of the deposits
In this work we have demonstrated that PtRu nanoparticles with a diameter of 10–20 nm can be deposited in MWCNTNafion nanocomposite by an electroreduction method
Summary
Direct methanol fuel cell is an attractive power source for portable power applications and in electrical vehicles [1]. The main factors that limit the practical application of direct methanol fuel cell are the sluggish kinetics of methanol electrooxidation at anode and the poisoning of electrode surfaces. Much effort has been made to develop Pt-based catalysts with higher CO poisoning tolerance and electrocatalytic activity. Improved electrocatalytic activity towards the methanol electrooxidation has been reported for Pt-based catalysts with other elements such as Ru [2], Sn [3], and Os [4, 5]. Among these Pt-based catalysts, PtRu bimetallic catalyst has shown the best electrocatalytic activity towards the methanol electrooxidation. The CO removal process is achieved at PtRu catalyst because of the reaction of Ru-OH groups with neighboring CO adsorbed on Pt [1]
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