Synthesis of Pt and Pt-Fe nanoparticles supported on MWCNTs used as electrocatalysts in the methanol oxidation reaction

This work reports a feasible synthesis of highly-dispersed Pt and Pt-Fe nanoparticles supported on multiwall carbon nanotubes （MWCNTs） without Fe and multiwall carbon nanotubes with iron （MWCNTs-Fe） which applied as electrocatalysts for methanol electrooxidation. A Pt coordination complex salt was synthesized in an aqueous solution and it was used as precursor to prepare Pt/MWCNTs, Pt/MWCNTs-Fe, and Pt-Fe/MWCNTs using FeC12.4H20 as iron source which were named S 1, S2 and S3, respectively. The coordination complex of platinum （TOA）2PtC16 was obtained by the chemical reaction between （NH4）2PtC16 with tetraoctylammonium bromide （TOAB） and it was characterized by FT-IR and TGA. The materials were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, SEM, EDS, XRD, TEM and TGA. The electrocatalytic activity of Pt-based supported on MWCNTs in the methanol oxidation was investigated by cyclic voltammetry （CV） and chronoamperometry （CA）. Pt-Fe/MWCNTs electrocatalysts showed the highest electrocatalytic activity and stability among the tested electrocatalysts due to that the addition of ＂Fe＂ promotes the OH species adsorption on the electrocatalyst surface at low potentials, thus, enhancing the activity toward the methanol oxidation reaction （MOR）.     

Electrodeposition and electrocatalytic properties of platinum nanoparticles on multi-walled carbon nanotubes: effect of the deposition conditions

Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles were electrochemically deposited on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through a three-step process, including an electrochemical treatment of MWCNT, electro-oxidation of PtCl₄ ²⁻ to Pt(IV) complex, and an electro-conversion of Pt(0) on MWCNT. The effect of formation conditions for Pt(IV) complexes on the Pt nanoparticals transformed was investigated. The structure and elemental composition of the resulting Pt/MWCNT electrode were characterized by transmission electron micrograph (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The electrocatalytic properties of the resulting Pt/MWCNT electrode for methanol oxidation have been investigated. The high electrocatalytic activity and good stability of Pt/MWCNT electrode may be attributed to the high dispersion of platinum nanoparticles and the particular properties of the MWCNT supports.     

Pyrolysis of chloroplatinic acid to directly immobilize platinum nanoparticles onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Platinum nanoparticles supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Pt/MWCNTs) were first prepared by simple pyrolysis of H₂PtCl₆ solution. The structure of Pt/MWCNTs was characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the results showed that the diameter of the obtained platinum nanoparticles immobilized on MWCNTs was below 50 nm, although the obtained platinum nanoparticles were not well uniformly dispersed on the surface of MWCNTs. The electrocatalytic performance of Pt/MWCNTs electrode for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) was also investigated by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), indicating that it was possible to employ the obtained platinum nanoparticles as anode material in fuel cell. Developing a novel and simple method to prepare platinum nanoparticles onto MWCNTs is the main contribution of this letter. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 44, No. 8, pp. 1050–1053. The text was submitted the authors in English.     

Pt and Pt–Ru nanoparticles decorated polypyrrole/multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their catalytic activity towards methanol oxidation

Conducting polymer composite films comprised of polypyrrole (PPy) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) [PPy–CNT] were synthesized by in situ polymerization of pyrrole on carbon nanotubes in 0.1 M HCl containing (NH₄)S₂O₈ as oxidizing agent over a temperature range of 0–5 °C. Pt nanoparticles are deposited on PPy–CNT composite films by chemical reduction of H₂PtCl₆ using HCHO as reducing agent at pH = 11 [Pt/PPy–CNT]. The presence of MWCNTs leads to higher activity, which might be due to the increase of electrochemically accessible surface areas, electronic conductivity and easier charge-transfer at polymer/electrolyte interfaces allowing higher dispersion and utilization of the deposited Pt nanoparticles. A comparative investigation was carried out using Pt–Ru nanoparticles decorated PPy–CNT composites. Cyclic voltammetry demonstrated that the synthesized Pt–Ru/PPy–CNT catalysts exhibited higher catalytic activity for methanol oxidation than Pt/PPy–CNT catalyst. Such kinds of Pt and Pt–Ru particles deposited on PPy–CNT composite polymer films exhibit excellent catalytic activity and stability towards methanol oxidation, which indicates that the composite films is more promising support material for fuel cell applications.     

A simple one-step preparation of high utilization AuPt nanoparticles supported on MWCNTs for methanol oxidation in alkaline medium

A simple one-step preparation of gold–platinum electrocatalysts supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with high utilization is reported. A low Pt loading series of bimetallic AuPt/MWCNTs catalysts were prepared by the improved ethylene glycol reduction method, and then they were compared in terms of the electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry in alkaline solutions. The structure of AuPt/MWCNTs was characterized by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed high Pt utilization, uniform AuPt nanoparticles size and good electrocatalytic activity for methanol electro-oxidation. The effect of Au/Pt mass ratio on electrocatalytic activity was also investigated by CV and chronoamperometry. The highest peak current density, lowest onset potential and best anti-poisoning effect for methanol electro-oxidation appeared at the Au/Pt/MWCNTs mass ratio of 2:4:32.     

Electrodeposition of Platinum Nanoparticles on Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Methanol

Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles were deposited at the surface of well-aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) by potential cycling between +0.50 and −0.70 V at a scanning rate of 50 mV · s⁻¹ in 5 mM Na₂PtCl₆ solution containing 0.1 M NaCl. The electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol at the nanocomposites of Pt nanoparticles/nanotubes (Pt_nano/MWNTs) has been investigated using 0.2 M H₂SO₄ as supporting electrolyte. The effects of various parameters, such as Pt loading, concentration of methanol, medium temperature as well as the stability of Pt_nano/MWNTs electrode, have been studied. Compared to glassy carbon electrode, carbon nanotube electrode significantly enhances the catalytic efficiency of Pt nanoparticles for methanol oxidation. This improvement in performance is due not only to the high surface area and the fast electron transfer rate of nanotubes but also to the highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles as electrocatalysts at the tips and the sidewalls of nanotubes.     

氧化铁对铂在碱性介质中催化氧化甲醇的促进作用

Pt催化剂是电催化领域用途最为广泛的贵金属催化剂.Pt资源稀缺,价格昂贵,同时它的物理化学特性又决定了其在多种催化反应中难以被替代.在质子交换膜燃料电池的小分子醇类电氧化过程中,难免存在Pt的毒化现象,其催化性能有待进一步提升.因此,围绕着Pt催化剂纳米结构的设计、抗毒性及反应机理的探索一直是电催化研究面临的重要课题.目前,已被广泛认可的提高Pt催化性能的方法之一是引入第二种金属,通过金属间协同效应(双功能机理)、张力效应或电子效应等对Pt的催化行为进行改性.对于由双/多金属组成的纳米结构催化剂,无论是协同效应还是电子效应,催化活性的提高都需要金属间有丰富的接触界面和恰当的邻近状态.通过调变两组元的种类、原子比和接触状态等可以实现对金属-金属界面的调控,进而调变催化剂性能.除金属助剂外,金属氧化物对Pt催化剂的助催化作用也引起广泛关注.由于金属氧化物与Pt之间的密切接触作用,氧化物的形貌特点对Pt的催化性能可产生重要影响.到目前为止,有关催化剂形貌效应的研究主要集中于贵金属纳米颗粒上(Pt,Au,Pd等),但关于金属氧化物载体/助剂的形貌对贵金属催化性能影响的研究尚不多.具有明确形貌的金属氧化物载体/助剂,暴露的晶面不同,表面原子的配位状态也不同,从而造成与之密切接触的Pt的性质发生改变.因此,金属氧化物的表面性质以及Pt-金属氧化物的界面性质将对电催化性能产生重要影响,深入阐释贵金属-金属氧化物的表/界面性质以及建立有效的构效关系,对设计和制备高效电催化剂具有一定的指导意义.为了提高Pt基催化剂活性、抗CO中毒能力以及稳定性,本文采用共沉淀法和水热法分别制备了纳米棒和六边形纳米片状的Fe2O3作为Pt催化剂的助剂,考察了助剂形貌对Pt催化剂在碱性介质中催化氧化甲醇的促进作用.通过X射线衍射、扫描电子显微镜、透射电子显微镜、X射线光电子能谱以及电化学技术对催化剂进行了表征.结果显示,Fe2O3的存在能显著提高Pt催化剂在碱性介质中对甲醇氧化的电催化性能,而且以Fe2O3纳米棒为助剂制备的Pt-Fe2O3/C-R催化剂催化活性以及稳定性比Fe2O3纳米片为助剂制备的Pt-Fe2O3/C-P催化剂更高.这种促进效应可能与助剂Fe2O3的形态有关.Pt-Fe2O3/C-R催化剂中Pt的质量比活性为5.32 A/mgPt,本征活性为162.7 A/m2Pt,分别是Pt-Fe2O3/C-P催化剂的1.67和2.04倍,是商业PtRu/C样品的4.19和6.16倍.协同效应和电子效应是Pt催化性能提升的主要原因.此外,Pt-Fe2O3/C-R样品中高价态Pt的含量较高,可能也是加速甲醇氧化反应动力学的原因之一.高价态的Pt可能会增强甲醇分子在Pt表面的吸附强度,促进Pt上甲醇氧化反应初始步.这些发现不仅可对甲醇电催化氧化机理有了更深的理解,而且对设计和制备高性能甲醇氧化电催化剂也具有一定的指导意义.     

Fe对Pt-Fe/C催化剂电催化氧还原反应活性的影响

制备了用作直接甲醇燃料电池的碳载Pt-Fe(Pt-Fe/C)阴极催化剂, X射线能量色散谱(EDX)、X射线衍射谱和电化学测量的结果表明, 在Pt-Fe/C催化剂中, Fe以3种形式存在. 质量分数大约为20％的Fe进入Pt的晶格, 形成Pt-Fe合金, 质量分数大约为80％的Fe没有进入Pt的晶格而以Fe和Fe2O3的形式单独存在. 该催化剂经酸处理后, 非合金化Fe和Fe2O3被溶解, 而使Pt-Fe/C催化剂的电化学活性比表面积要比未经酸处理前的增加约30％左右, 导致Pt-Fe/C催化剂对氧还原的电催化活性优于未经酸处理前的Pt-Fe/C催化剂. 研究结果表明, Pt-Fe/C催化剂的电化学活性比表面积对氧还原的电催化活性起重要的作用, 另外, 只有与Pt形成合金的Fe能提高Pt对氧还原的电催化活性, 而非合金化的Fe对Pt催化剂对氧还原的电催化活性基本没有影响.     

高利用率多壁碳纳米管负载金铂合金纳米粒子催化剂在碱性溶液中的甲醇电催化氧化性能研究

使用乙二醇还原法合成了一系列高利用率多壁碳纳米管负载的金铂双金属纳米粒子电催化剂,在碱性溶液中由循环伏安和计时电流法测试该AuPt催化剂对于甲醇氧化反应的电催化活性.透射电子显微镜、X射线衍射与X射线能谱观测催化剂形貌,表征催化剂结构.结果表明,金铂双金属纳米粒子均匀分散在碳纳米管上,催化剂具有良好甲醇电氧化性能.实验表明Au/Pt/MWCNTs比为10∶8∶32(bymass)时,该催化剂具有最高甲醇电氧化峰电流密度与最负起始氧化电位.     

Dodecahedral Au/Pt Nanobowls as Robust Plasmonic Electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation under Visible-Light Illumination

Plasmonic nanostructures with large absorption areas under resonant excitation have been utilized extensively in photon-assisted applications. In this work, dodecahedral Au nanobowls were first prepared by an easy and template-free method only through the introduction of H₂PtCl₆ and I⁻ during the growth procedure. The Au nanobowls show electron-field enhancement due to the high curvature of the bowl edge, the open region, and dodecahedral morphology. Au/Pt nanobowls, which couple plasmonic Au and catalytic Pt, were then constructed as plasmonic electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation. The mass activity reached 497.6 mA mg⁻¹ under visible-light illumination, which is 1.9 times that measured in the dark. Simultaneously, the electrocatalytic stability is also greatly improved under light excitation. The enhanced properties of the plasmonic Au/Pt electrocatalysts are ascribed to the synergistic effect of the plasmon-enhanced photothermal and hot-carrier effects on the basis of experimental investigations. This work thus offers an effective methodology to construct efficient plasmonic electrocatalysts for fuel cells.     

多孔纳米结构Fe/Pt-Fe电极对碱性介质中甲醇电氧化的催化活性（英文）

An electrochemical approach to fabricate a nanostructured Fe/Pt-Fe catalyst through electrodeposition followed by galvanic replacement is presented. An Fe/Pt-Fe nanostructured electrode was prepared by deposition of Fe-Zn onto a Fe electrode surface, followed by replacement of the Zn by Pt at open-circuit potential in a Pt-containing alkaline solution. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray techniques reveal that the Fe/Pt-Fe electrode is porous and contains Pt. The electrocatalytic activity of the Fe/Pt-Fe electrode for oxidation of methanol was examined by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The electrooxidation current on the Fe/Pt-Fe catalyst is much higher than that on flat Pt and smooth Fe catalysts. The onset potential and peak potential on the Fe/Pt-Fe catalyst are more negative than those on flat Pt and smooth Fe electrodes for methanol electrooxidation. All results show that this nanostructured Fe/Pt-Fe electrode is very attractive for integrated fuel cell applications in alkaline media.     

Control growth of uniform platinum nanotubes and their catalytic properties for methanol electrooxidation

Uniform platinum nanotubes have been synthesized by directly mixing Ag nanowires and H₂PtCl₆ in saturated NaI solutions at room temperature. The crystal structure of the obtained Pt nanotube has been investigated in detail by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, their electrocatalytic behaviors for methanol oxidation in alkaline media have also been studied. Compared with conventional Pt/C catalysts, these hollow nanostructures possess high electrochemical active areas and demonstrate higher current densities.     

Electrocatalytic activity of porous nanostructured Fe/Pt-Fe electrode for methanol electrooxidation in alkaline media

An electrochemical approach to fabricate a nanostructured Fe/Pt-Fe catalyst through electrodepo-sition followed by galvanic replacement is presented. An Fe/Pt-Fe nanostructured electrode was prepared by deposition of Fe-Zn onto a Fe electrode surface, followed by replacement of the Zn by Pt at open-circuit potential in a Pt-containing alkaline solution. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray techniques reveal that the Fe/Pt-Fe electrode is porous and contains Pt. The electrocatalytic activity of the Fe/Pt-Fe electrode for oxidation of methanol was examined by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The electrooxidation current on the Fe/Pt-Fe catalyst is much higher than that on flat Pt and smooth Fe catalysts. The onset potential and peak potential on the Fe/Pt-Fe catalyst are more negative than those on flat Pt and smooth Fe electrodes for methanol electrooxidation. All results show that this nanostructured Fe/Pt-Fe electrode is very attractive for integrated fuel cell applications in alkaline media.     

Revealing the Effect of Surface Composition on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Supported Pt-Fe Alloy Electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation Performance

The designs of efficient and inexpensive Pt-based catalysts for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) are essential to boost the commercialization of direct methanol fuel cells. Here, the highly catalytic performance PtFe alloys supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) decorating nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) have been successfully prepared via co-engineering of the surface composition and electronic structure. The Pt₁Fe₃@NC/MWCNTs catalyst with moderate Fe³⁺ feeding content (0.86 mA/mg_Pt) exhibits 2.26-fold enhancement in MOR mass activity compared to pristine Pt/C catalyst (0.38 mA/mg_Pt). Furthermore, the CO oxidation initial potential of Pt₁Fe₃@NC/MWCNTs catalyst is lower relative to Pt/C catalyst (0.71 V and 0.80 V). Benefited from the optimal surface compositions, the anti-corrosion ability of MWCNT, strong electron interaction between PtFe alloys and MWCNTs and the N-doped carbon (NC) layer, the Pt₁Fe₃@NC/MWCNTs catalyst presents an improved MOR performance and anti-CO poisoning ability. This study would open up new perspective for designing efficient electrocatalysts for the DMFCs field.     

Pt 纳米颗粒在聚二甲基二烯丙基氯化铵功能化碳纳米管上的自发沉积及其对甲醇的电氧化性能

利用聚二甲基二烯丙基氯化铵(PDDA)非共价修饰的碳纳米管(CNTs)与PtCl₆^2-之间的自发氧化还原作用, 制备了Pt 纳米颗粒(Pt NPs)/CNTs-PDDA复合催化剂. PDDA在该催化剂中具有三种作用: (1) 作为金属前驱体PtCl₆^2-还原为Pt NPs 的还原剂; (2) 作为原位产生的Pt NPs 的稳定剂; (3) 在CNTs 表面形成保护膜抑制CNTs 在甲醇电催化氧化过程中的腐蚀. 采用傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱、热重分析和拉曼光谱对CNTs-PDDA进行了表征, 表明PDDA通过π-π作用已成功覆盖在CNTs 表面, 并且修饰过程没有导致CNTs 结构的破坏. 采用透射电子显微镜(TEM)对Pt NPs/CNTs-PDDA 催化剂进行了表征, 结果表明, Pt NPs 均匀地分散在CNTs上, 平均粒径约2 nm, 且粒径分布范围窄. 用循环伏安法、计时电流法进一步考察了Pt NPs/CNTs-PDDA催化剂在酸性介质中对甲醇的电催化氧化的性能. 电化学测试结果表明, 与原始CNTs 负载的Pt NPs催化剂相比,Pt NPs/CNTs-PDDA催化剂具有更高的电化学活性表面积、电催化质量比活性和稳定性.     

Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Methanol and Related Chemical Species on Ultrafine Pt and PtRu Particles Supported on Carbon

Well-homogenized PtRu/C electrocatalysts possessing high specific activity for methanol electro-oxidation were prepared by a co-impregnation method from carbon black and ethanolic solutions of Pt(NH₃)₂(NO₂)₂ and RuNO(NO₃) _x . The specific activity for methanol electro-oxidation increased with an increase in the PtRu particle size. A similar size effect was observed for Pt/C electrocatalysts. The size effect was discussed by considering a model catalyst method.     

In situ PEI and formic acid directed formation of Pt NPs/MWNTs hybrid material with excellent electrocatalytic activity

A hybrid material based on Pt nanoparticles (Pt NPs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) was fabricated with the assistance of PEI and formic acid. The cationic polyelectrolyte PEI not only favored the homogenous dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in water, but also provided sites for the adsorption of anionic ions PtCl₄²⁻ on the MWNTs’ sidewalls. Deposition of Pt NPs on the MWNTs’ sidewalls was realized by in situ chemical reduction of anionic ions PtCl₄²⁻ with formic acid. The hybrid material was characterized with TEM, XRD and XPS. Its excellent electrocatalytic activity towards both oxygen reduction in acid media and dopamine redox was also discussed.     

PtRu nanoparticles supported on 1-aminopyrene-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation

A new synthesis method for the preparation of high-performance PtRu electrocatalysts on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is reported. In this method, bimetallic PtRu electrocatalysts are deposited onto 1-aminopyrene (1-AP)-functionalized MWCNTs by a microwave-assisted polyol process. The noncovalent functionalization of MWCNTs by 1-AP is simple and can be carried out at room temperature without the use of expensive chemicals or corrosive acids, thus preserving the integrity and the electronic structure of MWCNTs. PtRu electrocatalysts on 1-AP-functionalized MWCNTs show much better distribution with no formation of aggregates, higher electrochemically active surface area, and higher electrocatalytic activity for the electrooxidation of methanol in direct methanol fuel cells as compared to that on conventional acid-treated MWCNTs and carbon black supported PtRu electrocatalysts. PtRu electrocatalysts on 1-AP-functionalized MWCNTs also show significantly enhanced stability.     

Platinum‐Decorated Au Porous Nanotubes as Highly Efficient Catalysts for Formic Acid Electro‐Oxidation

Au porous nanotubes (PNTs) were synthesized by a templating technique that involves the chemical synthesis of Ag nanowire precursors, electroless surface modification with Au, and selective etching. A subsequent galvanic replacement reaction between [PtCl₆]^2? and residual Ag generates Pt‐decorated Au porous nanotubes (Pt/Au PNTs), which represents a new type of self‐sustained high surface area electrocatalysts with ultra‐low Pt loading. Structural characterizations with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD) reveal a novel nanoarchitecture with multimodal open porosity and excellent structural continuity and integrity. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) demonstrates that these Pt/Au PNTs possess very high electrocatalytic activity toward formic acid oxidation with enhanced tolerance to CO poisoning.     

Influence of Metal Oxides on Platinum Activity towards Methanol Oxidation in H2SO4 solution

Pt–CeO₂/C, Pt–TiO₂/C, and Pt–ZrO₂/C electrocatalysts were prepared by using a modified microwave‐assisted polyol process. Physical characterization was performed by using XRD, TEM, and EDX analyses. The incorporation of different metal oxides increased the dispersion degree of Pt nanoparticles and reduced their diameter to 2.50 and 2.33 nm when TiO₂ and ZrO₂ were introduced to Pt/C, respectively. The electrocatalytic activity of various electrocatalysts was examined towards methanol oxidation in H₂SO₄ solution by using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Among the studied composites, Pt–ZrO₂/C was selected to be a candidate electrocatalyst for better electrochemical performance in direct methanol fuel cells.