Platinized mesoporous tungsten carbide for electrochemical methanol oxidation

Mesoporous WC with hexagonal crystal structure was synthesized by a surfactant-assisted polymer method. A new electrocatalyst composed of a small amount of Pt supported on the mesoporous WC exhibited higher activity for electrooxidation of methanol than microporous Pt/WC or Pt/W2C as well as commercial Pt–Ru(1:1)/C catalysts. The mesoporosity and the phase of WC appear important for the high activity. Compared to the commercial Pt–Ru/C catalyst, the Pt/WC (mesoporous) showed the higher activity per mass of Pt by a factor of six even without Ru. Since the catalyst is also stable in electrochemical environment, it could become an alternative electrocatalyst for direct methanol fuel cells.