Nitrogen/sulfur dual-doped mesoporous carbon with controllable morphology as a catalyst support for the methanol oxidation reaction

Graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide by thermal treatment (rGO-TT), nitrogen-modified rGO (N-rGO), and carbon Vulcan were synthesized and employed in the current work as catalyst support for Pt nanoparticles, to study their properties and impact toward the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in sulfuric acid medium. Several physicochemical techniques, such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Raman, and elemental analysis were employed to characterize the novel materials, while potentiodynamic and potentiostatic methods were used to study catalytic performance toward the methanol oxidation reaction in acidic medium. The main results indicate a high influence of the support on the surface electronic state of the catalyst, and consequently the catalytic performance toward the MOR is modified. Accordingly, Pt/N-rGO and Pt/rGO-TT show the lowest and the highest catalytic performance toward the MOR, respectively.

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Nanomaterials-Based PEM Electrodes by Combining Chemical and Physical Depositions

Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology ◽

10.1115/1.4003629 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

R. Giorgi ◽

L. Giorgi ◽

S. Gagliardi ◽

E. Salernitano ◽

M. Alvisi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polymer Electrolyte ◽

Methanol Oxidation ◽

Oxidation Reaction ◽

Specific Activity ◽

Catalyst Activity ◽

Catalyst Support ◽

Sputter Deposition ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

Methanol Oxidation Reaction ◽

Carbon Based

The real market penetration of polymer electrolyte fuel cells is hindered by the high cost of this technology mainly due to the expensive platinum catalyst. Two approaches are followed to reduce the cost: one way is to increase the Pt utilization efficiency reducing at the same time the total load and the other way is to increase the catalytic activity of the catalyst/support assembly. In this work, the increase of utilization efficiency is addressed by optimizing the catalyst distribution on the uppermost layer of the electrode via electrodeposition and sputter deposition, while the improvement of the catalyst activity is pursued by nanostructuring the catalysts and the carbon-based supports. A very low Pt loading (0.006 mg cm−2) was obtained by sputter deposition on electrodes that exhibited a mass specific activity for methanol oxidation reaction better than a commercial product. Carbon nanofibers used as catalyst support of electrodeposited platinum nanoparticles resulted in improved mass specific activity and long term stability compared to conventional carbon-based supports. Finally, PtAu alloys developed by sputter deposition were found more efficient than commercial PtRu catalyst for the methanol oxidation reaction. In conclusion, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell electrode based on nanomaterials, developed by combining physical and chemical deposition processes, showed outstanding electrochemical performance.

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A graphitic carbon nitride–titania nanocomposite as a promising catalyst support for electro-oxidation of methanol

New Journal of Chemistry ◽

10.1039/c8nj04772c ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 43 (8) ◽

pp. 3273-3279 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Karuvatta Nubla ◽

Thulasi Radhakrishnan ◽

N. Sandhyarani

Keyword(s):

Methanol Oxidation ◽

Oxidation Reaction ◽

Carbon Nitride ◽

Catalyst Support ◽

Graphitic Carbon ◽

Graphitic Carbon Nitride ◽

Methanol Oxidation Reaction ◽

Oxidation Of Methanol ◽

Electro Oxidation

A graphitic carbon nitride–titania nanocomposite has been synthesized as a catalyst support for Pt which enhanced the electrocatalytic methanol oxidation reaction.

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