Platinum-supported mesoporous carbon (Pt/CMK-3) as anodic catalyst for direct methanol fuel cell applications: The effect of preparation and deposition methods

Platinum-supported ordered mesoporous carbon catalysts were prepared employing colloidal platinum reduced by four different reducing agents, viz., paraformaldehyde, sodium borohydride, ethylene glycol and hydrogen, and deposited over ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) synthesized by silica hard template (SBA-15). The resulting platinum nanoparticles supported mesoporous carbon, designated as Pt/CMK-3, catalysts were tested for the electocatalytic oxidation of methanol. The effect of the various reduction methods on the influence of particle size vis-à-vis on the electrocatalytic effect is investigated. All the catalysts were systematically characterized by XRD, BET and TEM. The results of the synthetic methods, characterization techniques and the electrocatalytic performance indicate that the Pt/CMK-3 catalysts are superior to that prepared with activated carbon (Pt/AC) as well as with that of the commercial platinum-supported carbon catalyst (Pt/E-TEK). In particular, the catalyst, Pt/CMK-3, prepared using paraformaldehyde reduced platinum showed much higher activity and long-term stability as compared to the other reducing methods.