Bucky diamond produced by annealing nanodiamond as a support of Pt electrocatalyst for methanol electrooxidation

Bucky diamond (BD) with a nanoscale diamond core surrounded by a fullerene shell was used as a support of Pt electrocatalyst for methanol electrooxidation. BDs were prepared by annealing detonation-synthesized nanodiamond (ND) powders in 10−3 Pa vacuum at 900–1100 °C. The electrochemical properties of the BD powders in aqueous solution were investigated. The BDs and NDs supported platinum (Pt) electrocatalysts were prepared using a microwave-assisted reduction method. Higher dispersion of Pt nanoparticles was observed on the BDs than the pristine NDs, indicating a high affinity between BDs and Pt metal. The Pt/BD catalyst had better catalytic activity and higher stability for the methanol electrooxidation in comparison to the Pt/ND prepared at the same conditions. This provides a novel nanoparticle with a high conductivity and a high stability for electrochemical applications.

► BD was produced by annealing ND in 10−3 Pa vacuum at 1100 °C.
► BD supported Pt catalyst was prepared using a microwave-assisted reduction method.
► Pt nanoparticles had higher dispersivity on BDs than NDs.
► Pt/BD presented better catalytic activity for methanol electrooxidation than Pt/ND.