Pulse microwave-assisted synthesis of Pt nanoparticles onto carbon nanotubes as electrocatalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

This study represents a comprehensive pulse microwave-assisted polyol synthesis method to deposit Pt catalysts onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Three electrocatalysts have been prepared using different microwave pulse (MP = ton/toff) configurations, namely, CAT 3-1 (MP = 3), CAT 2-1 (MP = 2), and CAT 3-2 (MP = 1.5). The experimental results reveal that the CAT 3-2 catalyst possesses the smallest mean particle size of 2.1 nm and the most uniform distribution among these catalysts. The CAT 3-2 catalyst also exhibits the highest electrochemical surface area with excellent stability and the best peak power density of 11.4 kW g Pt−1 (as anode catalyst) and 5.45 kW g−1 (as cathode catalyst) at 80 °C. On the basis of the experimental results, the well-dispersed Pt particles over the CNT support by the microwave-assisted deposition deliver an improved catalytic activity and excellent stability not only for hydrogen oxidation reaction but also oxygen reduction reaction kinetics.