Electro-deposition on carbon black and carbon nanotubes of Pt nanostructured catalysts for methanol oxidation (original) (raw)

Preparation of a carbon supported Pt catalyst using an improved organic sol method and its electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation

Journal of Power Sources, 2006

The organic sol method for preparing ultrafine transition metal colloid particles reported for the first time by Bonnemann et al. [H. Bonnemann, W. Brijoux, R. Brinkmann, E. Dinjus, T. Jou␤en, B. Korall, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 30 (1991) 1312] has been improved in this paper. The improved organic sol method uses SnCl 2 as the reductant and methanol as the organic solvent. Thus, this method is very simple and inexpensive. It was found that the average size of the Pt particles in the Pt/C catalysts can be controlled by adjusting the evaporating temperature of the solvent. Therefore, the Pt/C catalysts prepared by the same method are suitable for evaluating the size effect of the Pt particles on electrocatalytic performance for methanol oxidation. The results of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that when the evaporating temperatures of the solvent are 65, 60, 50, 40, and 30 • C, the average sizes of the Pt particles in the Pt/C catalysts prepared are: 2.2, 3.2, 3.8, 4.3, and 4.8 nm, respectively. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) results demonstrated that the small Pt particles are easily oxidized and the decomposition/adsorption of methanol cannot proceed on the surfaces of Pt oxides. Thus, the Pt/C catalyst with small Pt particles has a low electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation. The Pt/C catalyst with a large average size of the Pt particles also possesses a small electrochemically active surface area. Therefore, only the Pt/C catalyst with a middle average size of Pt particles, such as 3.8 nm exhibited optimal electrocatalytic performance for methanol oxidation. Because the Pt/C catalysts with the different particle sizes were prepared with the same method, the size effect on the electrocatalytic performance of the catalysts could be reliably investigated.

Pt and PtRu nanoparticles deposited on single-wall carbon nanotubes for methanol electro-oxidation

Journal of Power Sources, 2007

Platinum (Pt) and platinum-ruthenium (PtRu) nanoparticles supported on Vulcan XC-72 carbon and single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are prepared by a microwave-assisted polyol process. The catalysts are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The PtRu nanoparticles, which are uniformly dispersed on carbon, have diameters of 2-6 nm. All the PtRu/C catalysts display the characteristic diffraction peaks of a face centred cubic Pt structure, excepting that the 2θ values are shifted to slightly higher values. The results from XPS analysis reveal that the catalysts contain mostly Pt(0) and Ru(0), with traces of Pt(II), Pt(IV) and Ru(IV). The electrooxidation of methanol is studied by cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, and chronoamperometry. Both PtRu/C catalysts have high and more durable electrocatalytic activities for methanol oxidation than a comparative Pt/C catalyst. Preliminary data from a single direct methanol fuel cell using the SWCNT supported PtRu alloy as the anode catalyst delivers high power density.

Zhufang Liu, Mohammad Shamsuzzoha, Earl T. Ada, Matthew W. Reichert and David E. Nikles "Synthesis and Activation of Pt Nanoparticles with Controlled Size for Fuel Cell Electrocatalysts" Journal of Power Sources, Vol, 10, 104 (2006)

Journal of Power Sources

Well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles with controlled size and narrow size distribution were prepared by polyalcohol reduction of platinum acetylacetonate, using oleylamine as a capping agent. The particle size was varied from 3.5 nm to 11.5 nm by decreasing the amount of oleylamine added in the synthesis. Size selection of the as-prepared particles by solvent fractionation yielded nearly monodispersed Pt particles. The as-prepared particles were loaded on a carbon support by physical deposition, but showed no electrocatalytic activity due to the oleylamine bound to the particle surface. The particles were activated for electrocatalysis after heating the particles in air at 185 • C for 5 h, conditions that gave no particle-sintering and no oxidation. Cyclic voltammetry showed that the particles after the heat treatment in air were electrocatalytically active for methanol oxidation. The smaller 3.5 nm and 4.0 nm Pt particles had a higher intrinsic activity for methanol oxidation, but a lower tolerance to CO poisoning, compared with 6.0 nm, 9.5 nm and 11.5 nm particles. CO-stripping results suggest that CO is more easily oxidized on larger Pt particles.

Synthesis and activation of Pt nanoparticles with controlled size for fuel cell electrocatalysts

Journal of Power Sources, 2007

ABSTRACT Well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles with controlled size and narrow size distribution were prepared by polyalcohol reduction of platinum acetylacetonate, using oleylamine as a capping agent. The particle size was varied from 3.5 nm to 11.5 nm by decreasing the amount of oleylamine added in the synthesis. Size selection of the as-prepared particles by solvent fractionation yielded nearly monodispersed Pt particles. The as-prepared particles were loaded on a carbon support by physical deposition, but showed no electrocatalytic activity due to the oleylamine bound to the particle surface. The particles were activated for electrocatalysis after heating the particles in air at 185 °C for 5 h, conditions that gave no particle-sintering and no oxidation. Cyclic voltammetry showed that the particles after the heat treatment in air were electrocatalytically active for methanol oxidation. The smaller 3.5 nm and 4.0 nm Pt particles had a higher intrinsic activity for methanol oxidation, but a lower tolerance to CO poisoning, compared with 6.0 nm, 9.5 nm and 11.5 nm particles. CO-stripping results suggest that CO is more easily oxidized on larger Pt particles.

Comparison of Catalytic Activity for Methanol Electrooxidation Between Pt/PPy/CNT and Pt/C

Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society

This work explored the catalytic effect of Pt in multi-wall carbon nanotube and poly-pyrrole conductive polymer electrocatalysts (Pt/PPy/MWCNT). A home-made Pt/PPy/MWCNT catalyst was first evaluated by comparing its electrochemical active surface area (ESA) with E-Tek commercial catalysts by cyclic voltammetry in H 2 SO 4 solution. Then, the methanol oxidation currents of Pt/PPy/MWCNT and the hydrogen peaks in H 2 SO 4 solution were serially measured with microporous electrode. This provided the current density of methanol oxidation based on the ESA, allowing a quantitative comparison of catalytic activity. The current densities were also measured for Pt/C catalysts of E-Tek and Tanaka Precious Metal Co. The current densities for the different catalysts were similar, implying that catalytic activity depended directly on the ESA rather than charge transfer or electronic conductivity.

Fuel cell performance of Pt electrocatalysts supported on carbon nanocoils

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2014

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell Carbon nanocoils Electrocatalyst a b s t r a c t Carbon nanocoils (CNCs) synthesized via the catalytic graphitization of resorcinolformaldehyde gel were investigated as an electrocatalyst support in PEMFC anodes. Their textural and physical properties make them a highly efficient catalyst support for anodic hydrogen oxidation in low temperature PEMFC.

Highly dispersed PtCo nanoparticles on micro/nano-structured pyrolytic carbon from refined sugar for methanol electro-oxidation in acid media

Catalysis Today, 2020

In this work, anodic electrocatalyst (20%wt of metal loading) as PtCo nanoparticles (atomic ratio of 48:52) on micro/nano-structured pyrolytic carbon (MNC) was synthesized by sequential impregnation method and chemical reduction route using citric acid and Ar-H 2 static atmosphere. MNC sample was synthesized via nanocasting process with anhydrous pyrolysis at 800°C using SBA-15 as hard template and refined sugar as carbon source. SBA-15 was prepared via sol gel using pluronic P-123 as surfactant and tetraethoxysilane as silica precursor. The prepared materials were characterized by means of N 2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The performance of PtCo/MNC for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) was measured by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry. The electrochemical characterization techniques revealed that the mass activity of PtCo/ MNC and the commercial electrocatalyst Pt/C (20%wt of Pt loading) at 20 cycles were 481 and 372 mA/mg Pt respectively as well as the resistance to the accumulation intermediate carbonaceous species (methoxy, aldehyde, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide) denoted by the ratio I f /I b for these catalysts were 1.30 and 0.76 respectively. PtCo/MNC exhibit better electrocatalytic performance, electrochemical stability and best resistance to carbonaceous intermediates species in the electro-oxidation of methanol.

Electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation Based on Platinum/Carbon Nanofibers Nanocomposite

Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2011

New carbon nanomaterials, i.e., carbon nanotubes and nanofibers, with special physico-chemical properties, are recently studied as support for methanol oxidation reaction electrocatalysts replacing the most widely used carbon black. Particularly, carbon fibrous structures with high surface area and available open edges are thought to be promising. Platelet type carbon nanofibers, which have the graphene layers oriented perpendicularly to the fiber axis, exhibit a high ratio of edge to basal atoms. Different types of carbon nanofibers (tubular and platelet) were grown by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition on carbon paper substrates. The process was controlled and optimised in term of growth pressure and temperature. Carbon nanofibers were characterised by high resolution scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to assess the morphological properties. Then carbon nanofibers of both morphologies were used as substrates for Pt electrodeposition. High resolution scanning electron microscopy images showed that the Pt nanoparticles distribution was well controlled and the particles size went down to few nanometers. Pt/carbon nanofibers nanocomposites were tested as electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction. Cyclic voltammetry in H 2 SO 4 revealed a catalyst with a high surface area. Cyclic voltammetry in presence of methanol indicated a high electrochemical activity for methanol oxidation reaction and a good long time stability compared to a carbon black supported Pt catalyst.