Carbon-nanosphere-supported Pt nanoparticles for methanol and ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline media

Carbon nanospheres with diameters ∼200 nm have been synthesized from glucose at 200 °C and normal atmosphere by a novel composite-molten-salt (CMS) method. Pt nanoparticles supported on those carbon nanospheres are used for methanol and ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline media. Experimental results demonstrate that, in comparison with the carbon black or hydrothermally-synthesized carbon nanosphere support, CMS carbon-nanosphere-supported Pt electrocatalyst shows an enhanced efficiency for both methanol and ethanol electro-oxidation in terms of electrode conductivity, electrochemically active surface, oxidation peak current density and onset potential. This enhancement is considered to be not only due to the high carbonization of the CMS synthesized carbon nanospheres, but also due to the formation of a porous structure by the carbon nanospheres which significantly reduces the liquid sealing effect allowing efficient gas diffusion.

The Pt catalyst supported on the newly synthesized carbon nanospheres exhibits a much higher catalytic activity for methanol and ethanol electrooxidationin alkaline media than that of the Pt catalyst supported on the commercially available carbon black or on the hydrothermal synthetic carbon nanospheres.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide