Preparation of high active Pt/C cathode electrocatalyst for direct methanol fuel cell by citrate-stabilized method

Platinum nanoparticles supported on carbons (Pt/C, 60%, mass fraction) electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) were prepared by citrate-stabilized method with different reductants and carbon supports. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). It is found that the size of Pt nanoparticles on carbon is controllable by citrate addition and reductant optimization, and the form of carbon support has a great influence on electrocatalytic activity of catalysts. The citrate-stabilized Pt nanoparticles supported on BP2000 carbon, which was reduced by formaldehyde, exhibit the best performance with about 2 nm in diameter and 66.46 m2/g (Pt) in electrocatalytic active surface (EAS) area. Test on single DMFC with 60% (mass fraction) Pt/BP2000 as cathode electrocatalyst showed maximum power density at 78.8 mW/cm2.