Cobalt-polypyrrole-multiwalled carbon nanotube catalysts for hydrogen and alcohol fuel cells

A cobalt-polymer-MWCNT composite has been developed as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in PEMFC. The suitability of this electrocatalyst for the ORR in direct methanol fuel cells and direct ethanol fuel cells has been examined by taking Pt–Ru/MWCNT and Pt–Sn/MWCNT, respectively as an anode electrocatalysts. The study results in improved power densities for hydrogen, methanol and ethanol based fuel cells compared to the previously reported non Pt based electrocatalysts, highlighting the use of this cobalt-polymer-MWCNT composite as a potential candidate for ORR in fuel cells.