Structural and electrocatalytic features of Pt/C catalysts fabricated in supercritical carbon dioxide

Pt/carbon black samples fabricated from dimethyl (1,5-cyclooctadiene) platinum(II) in supercritical CO₂ are characterized in relation to possible applications in methanol fuel cell. The problem of precise material characterization is addressed in frames of X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, and electrochemical techniques of the true surface area determination. The catalysts with Pt loading of 20–40 wt.% consist of nm-size particles, with the lattice defectiveness dependent on the fabrication mode. To check the effect of support, various types of carbon blacks (Vulcan XC72R and acetylene black AC-1) are used. In contrast to commercial HiSpec catalysts, no pronounced increase of particle size with Pt loading is found. Specific steady-state activity towards methanol oxidation appears to be essentially higher than for commercial catalysts, mostly because the self-poisoning effects are less pronounced. As for poisoning of Pt with organic species (resulting from the ligand of precursor), its effects are demonstrated to be minor after CO or methanol adsorption accompanied by desorption of contaminating by-product.