Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) belongs to the same family of energy conversion device and the application of new hydrogen storage nanomaterials such as carbon nanotube (CNTs) supported catalysts is being addressed in an increasing industrial approach. In this present study, multiwall carbon nanotube supported Pt and Pt‐Ni nanoparticles were prepared as cathode catalysts for direct methanol fuel cell application. Transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction analyses indicated the formation of well‐dispersed Pt and Pt‐Ni nanoparticles having sizes of around 2 ∼ 4 nm on carbon nanotube. Furthermore, the electrochemical characterization by the cyclic voltammetry (CV) demonstrated that these catalysts have higher catalytic activity and the methanol oxidation reaction of the Pt‐Ni/CNTs is respectively almost similar and slightly higher than Pt/CNTs electrocatalysts. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Electrocatalysts, Pt-Ni and Ni, catalysts loaded separately about 20 wt.% onto carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by the impregnation method for a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The particles size and morphology of these catalysts were confirmed by XRD and TEM analysis. From the X-ray diffraction analysis, the peaks of PtNi and Ni were displayed separately for each catalyst. TEM images showed that the metal catalysts were loaded uniformly and finely onto carbon nanotubes with sizes ranging from 2 to 4 nm. Finally, an electrochemical analysis was performed to determine catalytical activity of these catalysts by the cyclic voltammogram (CV).

Ni catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) based on carbon nanotube and Vulcan XC-72 carbon black (VCB) were prepared and their catalytical activity was investigated for DMFCs. The deposition was used to prepare Ni/CNTs and Ni/VCB composites. The morphology of the nanocomposites was tested by XRD and TEM analyses. The XRD pattern clearly showed that the peaks of the Ni catalysts appeared separately for each catalyst, and the TEM analysis confirmed that the particle sizes of Ni were between 2 nm to 4 nm. The electrochemical analyses were carried out by cyclic voltammetry (CV) to find the catalytic activities of these two types of carbon-supported Ni catalysts.

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