Improvement of Electrochemical Activity of Pt/MWCNT Catalyst for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Baasandorj Myagmarsuren,Battsengel Baatar,Bayardulam Jamiyansuren,Munkhshur Myekhlai

doi:10.5564/mjc.v12i0.165

Abstract

In last years, the carbon nanotubes have been studied as an advanced metal catalyst support for proton exchange membrane fuel cell. This study focuses on the sonochemical treatment of multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a platinum supporting material for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) by mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid and mixture of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Infrared (IR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the surface of sonochemically treated MWCNT and nanostructured electrocatalyst Pt/MWCNT. According to the experimental results of this work, the surface of MWCNT can be more successfully functionalized with hydroxyl and carboxyl groups after sonochemical treatment by mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. The particle size of prepared Pt -electrocatalyst on MWCNT was determined 3.4 nm by XRD.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5564/mjc.v12i0.165 Mongolian Journal of Chemistry Vol.12 2011: 20-23

Highlights

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have attracted much attention due to their extraordinary electrical, mechanical and structural properties [1]
For further experiment which is the preparation of electrocatalyst of Pt/multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) sulfuric and nitric acid treated MWCNT was used as a catalyst support
Multi walled carbon nanotube was used as a support material for fuel cell catalysts

Summary

Introduction

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have attracted much attention due to their extraordinary electrical, mechanical and structural properties [1]. There has been increasing interest in carbon nanotubes as heterogeneous catalyst support. Studies have shown that metal nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes may provide much improved catalytic activity [2]. Noble metals, such as Pt, Ru or Pt-Ru alloys, supported on carbon materials with high surface area are important electrochemical catalysts for PEM fuel cells.

Results

Conclusion