Publication: Investigation of oxygen reduction and methanol oxidation reaction activity of PtAu nano-alloy on surface modified porous hybrid nanocarbon supports
Date
01-09-2016
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Abstract
Weinvestigate the electrocatalytic activity of PtAu alloy nanoparticles supported on various chemically modified carbon morphologies towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). The surface-modification of graphene nanosheets ( f-G), multi-walled carbon nanotubes ( f-MWNTs) and (graphene nanosheets-carbon nanotubes) hybrid support ( f-GMWNTs) were carried out by soft functionalization method using a cationic polyelectrolyte poly-(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride). The Pt and PtAu alloy nanoparticles were dispersed over chemically modified carbon supports by sodium-borohydride assisted modified polyol reduction method. The electrochemical performance of all electrocatalysts were studied by half-and full-cell proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) measurements and PtAu/f-G-MWNTs catalyst comparatively yielded the best catalytic performance. PEMFC full cell measurements of PtAu/f-GMWNTscathode electrocatalyst yield a maximum power density of 319mWcm2 at 60 °Cwithout any back pressure,which is 2.1 times higher than that of cathode electrocatalyst Pt on graphene support. The highORR andMORactivity of PtAu/f-G-MWNTs electrocatalyst is due to the alloying effect and inherent beneficial properties of porous hybrid nanocarbon support.
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Electrocatalyst, Graphene, Methanol oxidation, MWNTs, Oxygen reduction reaction, Proton-exchange membrane fuel cell, PtAu nanoalloy