Mesoporous graphene-like nanobowls as Pt electrocatalyst support for highly active and stable methanol oxidation

Abstract

Mesoporous graphene-like nanobowls (GLBs) with high surface area of 1091 m2 g−1, high pore volume of 2.7 cm3 g−1 and average pore diameter of 9.8 nm are synthesized through template method. The GLBs with inherent excellent electrical conductivity and chemical inertia show the properties of well mass transfer, poison resistance and stable loading of smaller Pt particles. Therefore, the Pt/GLB catalyst shows much higher activity and stability than that of commercial Pt/C (TKK) for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). Therein, the peak current density on Pt/GLB (2075 mA mgPt−1) for MOR is 2.87 times that of commercial Pt/C (723 mA mgPt−1); and the onset potential for the MOR on the former is negatively shifted about 160 mV compared with that on the latter. The catalytic performances of the Pt/GLB are also better than those of the Pt loading on mesoporous amorphous carbon nanobowls (Pt/BLC), indicating promotion effect of graphite on Pt catalytic performance.