Smart synthesis of hollow core mesoporous shell carbons (HCMSC) as effective catalyst supports for methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions

The present paper describes an easy and quick synthesis of hollow core mesoporous shell carbon (HCMSC) simply templated from unpretreated solid core mesoporous shell silica using a cheap precursor like sucrose. Physical characterizations showed uniform spherical carbon capsules with a hollow macroporous core of ca. 305- and 55-nm-thick mesoporous shell, forming a well-developed 3-D interconnected bimodal porosity. High specific surface area and large pore volume were also confirmed, suggesting the obtained HCMSC as a promising catalyst support. HCMSC-supported Pt (nominal 20 wt.%) with an average Pt particle size of 1.9 nm was synthesized by wet impregnation, and a signal of strong interaction between carbon support and platinum was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry tests, the Pt/HCMSC electrode showed significantly higher electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) if compared with commercial Pt/Vulcan catalyst. The durability tests by cyclic voltammetry showed for the Pt/HCMSC a lower electrochemical active surface area loss than the commercial one in acidic solution. All the primary tests suggested that the Pt/HCMSC, due to its particular structure and the high dispersion of noble metal particles, is a promising catalyst for fuel cell applications, for MOR and ORR.     

Supercritical,Freezing and Thermal Drying Process of Resorcinol‐Formaldehyde Polymer based Nano‐carbons and their Highly Loaded PtRu Anode Electrocatalyst for DMFC

The capillary condensation is affected by micropore and nanopore of catalyst layer on fuel cell. Due to limitation of sluggish mass transport and electrocatalytic activity, to retain the pore skeleton of carbon and metal nanoparticles are very significant for enhanced utilizations of pore structure in electrochemical reaction. Besides, thickness of electrocatalyst layer is very crucial due to one of the factor affected by cell performance of direct methanol fuel cell. Highly loaded four Pt?Ru anode catalysts supported on resorcinol‐formaldehyde (RF) polymer based on meso‐porous carbons (80 wt.% Pt?Ru/carbon cryogel, 80 wt.% Pt?Ru/carbon xerogel and 80 wt.% Pt?Ru/carbon aerogel) and conventional carbon (80 wt.% Pt?Ru/Vulcan XC‐72) were prepared by colloidal method for direct methanol fuel cell. These catalysts were characterized by X‐Ray diffraction (XRD), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM) and X‐ray photoemission (XPS). The results of CO stripping voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and single cell test performed on DMFC show that Pt?Ru/carbon cryogel and Pt?Ru/carbon aerogel exhibits better performances in comparison to Pt?Ru/carbon xerogel and Pt?Ru/Vulcan XC‐72. It is thus considered that particle size, oxidation state of metal and electrochemical active surface area of these catalysts are important role in electrocatalytic activity in DMFC.     

嵌段共聚物模板法一步制备WC/C基底电极材料

以酚醛树脂作为碳源,采用嵌段共聚物模板法一步制备新型有序介孔碳化钨/碳（WC/C）纳米颗粒. WC/C颗粒的比表面积为414 m²·g^-1,表面的平均孔径约为38 nm,处于介孔范围内（2 ~ 50 nm）. 通过调节树脂预聚时间以及碳化温度等条件制备出结构形貌较优的WC/C复合材料,并探讨了材料形成机理. 使用X射线衍射、扫描电镜、透射电镜及氮气吸脱附等方法表征了复合材料的结构. 将贵金属铂负载于WC/C表面制备得新电催化材料Pt-WC/C,使用循环伏安法和计时电流法对Pt-WC/C复合材料的电化学性能进行检测,并与商用碳载铂（Pt/C）材料进行对比. 测试结果发现,Pt-WC/C对甲醇的电催化活性以及稳定性等方面都表现出优于商用Pt/C材料的活性,这主要归功于碳化钨高度分散于碳表面.     

Facile preparation Pt on Au dendrites supported on Si (100) and their electrochemical properties for methanol and CO electrooxidation

A new simple, time-saving method of preparing highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles with large electrochemically active area (ECA) on three-dimensional dendrite-like Au supported on Si (100) was successfully developed by electroless displacement deposition (EDD). The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscope and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The electro-catalytic properties of Pt/Au/Si for methanol and CO electrooxidation were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedances spectra. The results show that Pt/Au/Si catalyst prepared by EDD method presents the higher electro-catalytic activity and higher stability than that of Pt/Si composite. The electro-catalytic activity of Pt supported on Au could be enhanced with the growth of Au, leading to the higher electro-catalytic properties toward methanol and CO oxidation. The anodic peak of CO of Pt/Au/Si catalyst showed negatively shifted with respect to similarly prepared Pt/Si electrode. The supposed schematic of the reaction was also introduced. Overall, the approach provides a convenient method to prepare the Pt catalyst on Au dendrites with high ECA properties for DMFC and PEMFC through bottom-up assembly.     

甲醇在不同结构氧化钨-Pt/C催化剂上的电催化氧化行为

采用水热法合成2种氧化钨（WO3）纳米材料,并利用XRD和电子探针显微分析仪（EPMA）进行了表征。 利用循环伏安法研究了Pt-WO3/C电极对甲醇氧化的电催化活性。 结果表明,Pt-WO3/C催化剂对甲醇氧化的电催化活性优于Pt/C催化剂,且氧化钨质量分数为20%的Pt-氧化钨/C催化效果最好。 与青铜相氧化钨掺杂的Pt/C电极比较,掺杂焦绿石型氧化钨的Pt/C电极催化性能有很大提高,这是由于焦绿石型氧化钨表面具有较多OHads。 质量分数20%的Pt-焦绿石型氧化钨/C在0.5 mol/L CH3OH+1 mol/L H2SO4溶液中对甲醇氧化的峰电流密度达到87.2×10-3 A/cm2。     

Synthesis of graphitic ordered macroporous carbon with a three-dimensional interconnected pore structure for electrochemical applications

In this study, ordered macroporous carbon with a three-dimensional (3D) interconnected pore structure and a graphitic pore wall was prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of benzene using inverse silica opal as the template. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectrometry, nitrogen adsorption, and thermogravimetric analysis techniques were used to characterize the carbon samples. The electrochemical properties of the carbon materials as a carbon-based anode for lithium-ion batteries and as a Pt catalyst support for room-temperature methanol electrochemical oxidation were examined. It was observed that the CVD method is a simple route to fabrication of desired carbon nanostructures, affording a carbon with graphitic pore walls and uniform pores. The graphitic nature of the carbon enhances the rate performance and cyclability in lithium-ion batteries. The specific capacity was found to be further improved when SnO(2) nanoparticles were supported on the carbon. The specific activity of Pt catalyst supported on the carbon materials for room-temperature methanol electrochemical oxidation was observed to be higher than that of a commercial Pt catalyst (E-TEK).     

Preparation of polyaniline–tin dioxide composites and their application in methanol electro-oxidation

Polyaniline–tin dioxide (PANI-SnO₂) composites were prepared by chemical polymerization method, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Due to the good stability in diluted acidic solution, PANI-SnO₂ composites were selected as the catalyst support and second catalyst for methanol electro-oxidation. The electrocatalytic properties of the PANI-SnO₂ supported Pt catalyst (Pt/PANI-SnO₂) for methanol oxidation have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and chronopotentiometry. Under the same loading mass of Pt, the Pt/PANI-SnO₂ catalyst shows higher electrocatalytic activity towards methanol electro-oxidation than Pt/SnO₂ catalyst.     

Electrocatalytic properties of platinum nanoparticles supported on fluorine tin dioxide/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites for methanol electrooxidation in acidic medium

Fluorine tin oxide (FTO) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites synthesized by a sol-gel process followed by a hydrothermal treatment process have been explored as a support for Pt nanoparticles (Pt-FTO/MWCNTs). X-ray diffraction analysis and high resolution transmission electron microscopy show that the Pt and FTO nanoparticles with crystallite size of around 4-8 nm are highly dispersed on the surface of MWCNTs. Pt-FTO/MWCNT catalyst is evaluated in terms of the electrochemical catalytic activity for methanol electrooxidation using cyclic voltammetry, steady state polarization experiments, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique in acidic medium. The Pt-FTO/MWCNT catalyst exhibits a higher intrinsic catalytic activity for methanol electrooxidation with high stability during potential cycling than Pt nanoparticles supported on tin dioxide/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites. The results suggest that FTO/MWCNT composites could be considered as an alternative support for Pt-based electrocatalysts in direct alcohol fuel cells.     

甲醇在Pt/C和Pt/WO_3/C电极上的电氧化

用液相还原法制备碳载Pt(Pt/C)和碳载Pt/WO3(Pt/WO3/C)催化剂.实验表明该催化剂中加入一定量的WO3后,其对甲醇的催化氧化活性和稳定性都有一定提高,并以Pt、W原子比为1∶1的催化剂性能最好.这是由于Pt催化剂中加入了WO3后,其电化学活性比表面积增大,并且降低了对CO吸附强度.     

Electrodeposited Pt and Pt-Sn nanoparticles on Ti as anodes for direct methanol fuel cells

Electro-oxidation of methanol was studied on titanium supported nanocrystallite Pt and Pt_x-Sn_y catalysts prepared by electrodeposition techniques. Their electro-catalytic activities were studied in 0.5mol/L H₂SO₄ and compared to those of a smooth Pt, Pt/Pt and Pt-Sn/Pt electrodes. Platinum was deposited on Ti by galvanostatic and potentiostatic techniques. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques were applied in order to investigate the chemical composition and the phase structure of the modified electrodes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the surface morphology and to correlate the results obtained from the two electrochemical deposition methods. Results show that modified Pt/Ti electrodes prepared by the two methods have comparable performance and enhanced catalytic activity towards methanol electro-oxidation compared to Pt/Pt and smooth Pt electrodes. Steady state Tafel plots experiments show a higher rate of methanol oxidation on a Pt/Ti catalyst than that on a smooth Pt.  Introduction of a small amount of Sn deposited with Pt improves the catalytic activity and the stability of prepared electrode with time as indicated from the cyclic votlammetry and the chronoamperometric experiments. The effect of variations in the composition for binary catalysts of the type Pt_x-Sn_y/Ti towards the methanol oxidation reaction is reported. Consequently, the Pt_x-Sn_y/Ti (x∶y (8∶1), molar ratio) catalyst is a very promising one for methanol oxidation.     

Nanostructured PtRu/C as anode catalysts prepared in a pseudomicroemulsion with ionic surfactant for direct methanol fuel cell

Nanostructured PtRu/C catalysts have been prepared from a water-in-oil pseudomicroemulsion with the aqueous phase of a mixed concentrated solution of H(2)PtCl(6), RuCl(3), and carbon powder, oil phase of cyclohexane, ionic surfactant of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (C(18)H(29)NaO(3)S), and cosurfactant n-butanol (C(4)H(10)O). Two different composing PtRu/C nanocatalysts (catalyst 1, Pt 20 wt %, Ru 15 wt %; catalyst 2, Pt 20 wt %, Ru 10 wt %) were synthesized. The catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis, and the particles were found to be nanosized (2-4 nm) and inherit the Pt face-centered cubic structure with Pt and Ru mainly in the zero valance oxidation state. The ruthenium oxide and hydrous ruthenium oxide (RuO(x)()H(y)()) were also found in these catalysts. The cyclic voltammograms (CVs) and chronoamperometries for methanol oxidation on these catalysts showed that catalyst 1 with a higher Ru content (15 wt %) has a higher and more durable electrocatalytic activity to methanol oxidation than catalyst 2 with low Ru content (10 wt %). The CV results for catalysts 1 and 2 strongly support the bifunctional mechanism of PtRu/C catalysts for methanol oxidation. The data from direct methanol single cells using these two PtRu/C as anode catalysts show the cell with catalyst 1 has higher open circuit voltage (OCV = 0.75 V) and maximal power density (78 mW/cm(2)) than that with catalyst 2 (OCV = 0.70 V, P(max) = 56 mW/cm(2)) at 80 degrees C.     

炭黑负载Pt-Fe双金属催化剂对甲醇的电催化氧化性能

采用浸渍还原法制备了炭黑负载Pt及Pt-Fe双金属催化剂,通过X光衍射、扫描电镜及X射线光电子能谱对催化剂进行了表征.利用循环伏安法和计时电流法研究了溶液pH值和Pt/Fe原子比对Pt-Fe/C催化剂的甲醇电催化氧化活性与稳定性的影响.结果显示,当溶液pH值为9.0,Pt/Fe原子比为1∶1时,所得Pt-Fe/C催化剂对甲醇的电催化氧化活性与稳定性明显优于Pt/C催化剂.Fe的引入不仅提高了Pt粒子的分散与电化学活性表面积,而且有利于富Pt表面的形成,从而提高了Pt的有效利用率与催化性能.     

双牺牲模板法制备一维管状Pt-Mn3O4-C复合物及其优越的甲醇电催化氧化性能

通过双牺牲模板法合成了以一维管状Mn₃O₄-C为催化剂载体的新型Pt 基电催化剂. 催化剂的表面形貌、晶体结构及其组成分别采用透射电镜、X射线衍射仪、能量散射X射线光谱进行表征. 通过循环伏安法对Pt-Mn₃O₄-C复合物的电化学性能进行了测试. 结果表明平均粒径为1.8 nm的Pt 纳米颗粒均匀分散在管式Mn₃O₄-C载体上, 与商业的E-TEK Pt/C 催化剂(20% (w, 质量分数) Pt)相比, Pt-Mn₃O₄-C对甲醇氧化有更好的电催化活性和更高的稳定性. Pt 纳米粒子在Mn₃O₄-C上的均匀分散及Pt 和Mn₃O₄的协同催化效应使得Pt-Mn₃O₄-C具有优异的性能.     

三维结构氧化石墨烯载铂催化剂对甲醇电催化性能

喷雾干燥法制备具有三维结构的氧化石墨烯(PGO),在其表面进一步负载活性成分Pt,得到纳米Pt/PGO复合催化剂。采用X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、透视电镜(TEM)和扫描电镜(SEM)等对催化剂的形貌和结构进行表征。结果表明,PGO具有类似于长4-6μm和宽2.0-3.0μm的三维纸团结构,平均粒径为4.2 nm的Pt纳米粒子均匀分布在其表面。采用循环伏安和计时电流法研究了在酸性溶液中催化剂对甲醇的电催化氧化性能。结果表明,Pt/PGO催化剂对甲醇呈现出更高的电催化氧化活性和稳定性。PGO所具有的三维结构和双功能作用机理有利于甲醇在铂表面的电催化氧化过程的发生。     

Pt纳米颗粒在氮掺杂空心碳微球上的高分散负载及其氧还原性能

通过热解自聚合多巴胺法制备了氮掺杂空心碳微球(N-HCMS), 并采用微波辅助乙二醇还原方法把Pt纳米粒子负载于N-HCMS上制得了Pt/N-HCMS催化剂. 催化剂的表面形貌、晶体结构及其比表面积和孔径分布等分别采用扫描电子显微镜、透射电子显微镜、X射线衍射仪及比表面分析仪等进行表征. 采用循环伏安法和线性扫描伏安法研究了Pt/N-HCMS 催化剂在酸性条件下的电催化氧还原性能. Pt/N-HCMS 催化剂由于Pt纳米粒子的均匀分散、N-HCMS载体的快速电子传递及其独特的微孔和中空结构而具有很高的电催化氧还原活性, 其质量比活性是E-TEK Pt/C 催化剂的近两倍. Pt/N-HCMS 催化剂还具有优良的稳定性. 本工作对于开发高性能的燃料电池阴极催化剂具有重要意义.     

不同温度烧制介孔碳作为直接甲醇燃料电池催化剂载体

以嵌段共聚物P123为模板制备介孔氧化硅SBA-15, 并以此SBA-15为模板, 以蔗糖为碳源在不同的温度下(600-900 °C)制备介孔碳CMK-3. 采用浸渍还原法, 以硼氢化钠为还原剂, 制备介孔碳载Pt电催化剂, 即20% (w) Pt/CMK-3. 利用循环伏安法(CV)、计时电流法等测试电催化剂对甲醇的催化氧化性能及稳定性. 预吸附单层CO溶出伏安法研究测试催化剂抗CO中毒能力. 结果表明在烧制温度为900 °C时制备的介孔碳载Pt催化剂具有最好的催化性能和稳定性, 而在烧制温度为700 °C时制备的介孔碳载Pt催化剂对CO有较低的溶出电位.     

Catalytic activity and stability toward methanol oxidation of PtRu/CNTs prepared by adsorption in aqueous solution and reduction in ethylene glycol

In this paper, we reported an improved process for the preparation of PtRu/CNTs, which involves the adsorption of Pt and Ru ions on CNTs in aqueous solution and the reduction of the adsorbed Pt and Ru ions on CNTs in ethylene glycol. The surface morphology, structure, and compositions of the prepared catalyst were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive spectrometer. TEM observation showed that the particles size of the prepared PtRu alloy was in the range of 2–5 nm, XRD patterns confirmed a face-centered cubic crystal structure. The activity and stability of the prepared catalyst toward methanol oxidation were studied in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ + 1 M CH₃OH solution by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and chronopotentiometry. The electrochemical results showed that the prepared catalyst exhibited higher activity and stability toward methanol oxidation than commercial PtRu/C with the same loading amount of Pt and Ru.     

Highly efficient and stable electrooxidation of methanol and ethanol on 3D Pt catalyst by thermal decomposition of In_2O_3 nanoshells

In this paper In_2O_3 nanoshells have been synthesized via a facile hydrothermal approach.The nanoshells can be completely cracked into pony-size nanocubes by annealing,which are then used as a support of Pt catalyst for methanol and ethanol electrocatalytic oxidation.The prepared In_2O_3 and supported Pt catalysts(Pt/In_2O_3) were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),field effect scanning electron microscopy(FESEM),and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).Cyclic voltammetry(CV),linear sweep voltammetry(LSV),chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) were carried out,indicating the excellent catalytic performance for alcohol electrooxidation can be achieved on Pt/In_2O_3 nanocatalysts due to the multiple active sites,high conductivity and a mass of microchannels and micropores for reactant diffusions arising from 3D frame structures compared with that on the Pt/C catalysts.     

PtRu/carbon nanotube nanocomposite synthesized in supercritical fluid: a novel electrocatalyst for direct methanol fuel cells

Platinum/ruthenium nanoparticles were decorated on carbon nanotubes (CNT) in supercritical carbon dioxide, and the nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). TEM images show that the particles size is in the range of 5-10 nm, and XRD patterns show a face-centered cubic crystal structure. Methanol electrooxidation in 1 M sulfuric acid electrolyte containing 2 M methanol were studied onPtRu/CNT (Pt, 4.1 wt%; Ru, 2.3 wt%; molar ratio approximately Pt/Ru = 45:55) catalysts using cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. All the electrochemical results show that PtRu/CNT catalysts exhibit high activity for methanol oxidation which resulted from the high surface area of carbon nanotubes and the nanostructure of platinum/ruthenium particles. Compared with Pt/CNT, the onset potential is much lower and the ratio of forward anodic peak current to reverse anodic peak current is much higher for methanol oxidation, which indicates the higher catalytic activity of PtRu/CNT. The presence of Ru with Pt accelerates the rate of methanol oxidation. The results demonstrated the feasibility of processing bimetallic catalysts in supercritical carbon dioxide for fuel cell applications.     

核壳结构碳化钨复合微球催化剂对甲醇电催化性能

以偏钨酸铵微球为前驱体,在不同反应时间和CO/CO₂气氛条件下,通过原位还原碳化反应制备了具有核壳结构碳化钨复合微球。采用X射线粉末衍射（XRD）、X射线光电子能谱（XPS）和扫描电镜（SEM）等对催化剂的形貌和结构进行了表征分析。硼氢化钠还原法将平均粒径为4.6 nm的Pt纳米粒子均匀分布在其表面,得到核壳结构碳化钨复合催化剂。采用循环伏安和计时电流法研究了在酸性溶液中催化剂对甲醇的电催化氧化性能。结果表明,与Pt/WC-15 h和JM Pt/C催化剂的电化学性能相比,Pt/WC-6 h催化剂对甲醇呈现出更高的电催化氧化活性和稳定性。碳化钨复合微球表面少量WO₂成分的存在有利于甲醇在其表面的电催化氧化过程的发生。