Mesoporous carbon synthesized from dual colloidal silica/block copolymer template approach as the support of platinum nanoparticles for direct methanol fuel cells

Mesoporous carbons (MCs), of large mesopores, narrow pore size distribution, and high mesopore volume, are synthesized by a dual-templating method using colloidal silica as a hard template and triblock copolymer as a soft template, respectively. Platinum nanoparticles supported on MCs (Pt/MC) are prepared via polyol reduction approach. As supported by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles with an average size of ca. 2.2 nm, much smaller than that of commercial Pt/C, are attached to the pore wall of MCs. Electrochemical studies reveal that the Pt/MC catalysts have higher electrocatalytic activities both for methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in comparison to the Pt/XC72R and commercial Pt/C, which may be attributed to unique mesopore structure of MCs and enhanced interaction between Pt nanoparticles and MCs.

► Mesoporous carbons (MCs) are synthesized from a dual-template approach.
► MCs exhibit large mesopore, narrow pore size distribution, and high mesopore volume.
► The Pt particles are homogeneously supported on MCs with an average size of 2.2 nm.
► The Pt/MC displays higher electrocatalytic activity than the commercial Pt/C.