Preparation and Characterization of Platinum-Based Electrocatalysts on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Abstract

A higher yield of functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was obtained by treatment of CNTs in HNO3 or H2SO4-K2Cr2O7. The deposition of platinum nanoparticles and nanoclusters on these functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes by electroless plating was facilitated by a two-step sensitization-activation pretreatment. The deposition was sensitive to the aging time of the sensitizing solution and the pH of the plating solution. The resulting electrocatalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and cyclic voltammetry. XPS analysis showed that the Pt/CNT electrocatalysts contained 67.3% of Pt(0) and 32.7% of Pt(IV). Test runs on a single stack polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell showed that these electrocatalysts are very promising for fuel cell applications.

Nitrogen-doped carbon xerogel: A novel carbon-based electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells

“…Pt/C) have been considered as the most effective elecrocatalysts for ORR in PEM fuel cells due to their high activities and good stabilities. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] However, the issues of high cost, scarce sources and long-term durability limit their large-scale production and hinder the commercialization of PEM fuel cells. [10][11][12][13][14] In order to decrease the cost of electrocatalysts and eliminate their dependence on noble metals, various non-noble metal catalysts have been explored recently as alternatives to the Pt-based electrocatalysts, which include chalcogenide catalysts, [15][16][17][18][19] transition metal macrocyclic compounds, [20][21][22] transition metallic oxides [23][24][25][26][27] and carbon-based catalysts.…”

Comparison of Pt/MWCNTs nanocatalysts synthesis processes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

“…The synthesis methods reported in the literature for Pt/CNTs are wet chemical method [16,17], electroless plating [18], electrodeposition [19], selfassembly [20] and supercitrical fluid [21]. However, homogenous deposition of Pt nanoparticles on the inert surface of CNTs is still a challenge in current technology [22].…”

Carbon Nanotubes Supported Metal Nanoparticles for the Applications in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs)

“…Halder et al (Halder et al, 2009) tried a surface treatment of CNTs by its mixing with a combination of concentrated HNO 3 and H 2 SO 4 which gave very good surface functionalization on the wall of CNTs. Liu et al (Liu et al, 2002) reported a high density of oxygen containing species on the CNT surface by a K 2 Cr 2 O 7 /H 2 SO 4 oxidative treatment. In general, the oxidative treatment technique can functionalize CNTs with oxygencontaining functional groups on their walls, which could increase the surface binding sites of CNTs, avoid the aggregation of the subsequent deposited metal NPs, improve the dispersion of metal NPs, and reduce the average size of metal NPs deposited.…”