Staying power: A new class of cathode catalysts based on supportless Pt (see picture, left) and PtPd nanotubes (NTs) is introduced. These materials have remarkable durability (right; CV=cyclic voltammetry, ECSA=electrochemical surface area) and high catalytic activity. They have the potential to circumvent most of the degradation pathways of current Pt/C and Pt‐black catalysts.
The use of multiwalled carbon nanotubes as a platinum support for proton exchange membrane fuel cells has been investigated as a way to reduce the cost of fuel cells through an increased utilization of platinum. Carbon nanotubes were selectively grown directly on the carbon paper by chemical vapor deposition with electrodeposited cobalt catalyzing the growth of the carbon nanotubes. The as-prepared carbon nanotubes were employed as the support for the subsequent platinum catalyst, which is electrodeposited on the carbon nanotubes. Physicochemical and electrochemical characterizations were conducted to identify the morphologies of the cobalt, the carbon nanotubes, and the electrodeposited platinum on the carbon nanotubes. The feasibility of a fuel cell using the carbon nanotube-based electrodes was demonstrated.
Covalent attachment of sulfonic acid-containing aryl radicals on the surface of ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK-5), leads to a solid acid catalyst with a high acid density. The material exhibits high surface area, uniform pore size distribution, high activity and good stability for acid-catalyzed reactions, such as esterification and condensation.
A simple filtration method is developed to prepare a partially oriented superhydrophobic film of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that have been catalyzed with uniform small Pt nanoparticles (2.8 nm) at high metal loading (30 wt %). A proton-exchange membrane fuel cell with the oriented CNT film as the cathode achieves higher single-cell performance than those with carbon black and a disordered CNT-film-based cathode probably because of the enhanced electrocatalytic activity of Pt/CNT and improved mass transport within the oriented film.
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