Platinum–antimony doped tin oxide nanoparticles supported on carbon black as anode catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells

Abstract

Antimony doped tin oxide supported on carbon black (ATO/C) has been synthesized using an in situ co-precipitation method, and platinum–ATO/C nanoparticles have been prepared using a consecutive polyol process to enhance the catalyst activity for the methanol oxidation reaction. The Pt–ATO/C electrocatalyst is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microcopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and cyclic voltammetry. The Pt–ATO/C catalyst exhibits a relatively high activity for the methanol oxidation reaction compared to Pt–SnO2/C or commercial Pt/C catalyst. This activity can be attributed to the high electrical conductivities of the Sb-doped SnO2, which induces the electronic effects with Pt catalysts. Pt–ATO/C is a promising methanol oxidation catalyst with high activity for the reaction in direct methanol fuel cells.