Pt–Co supported on single-walled carbon nanotubes as an anode catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells

Catalyst of Pt–Co supported on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is prepared using mixed reducing agents. The SWCNTs were pretreated in a microwave oven to enable surface modification. Pt–Co nanoparticles with narrow particle size distribution around 5.4 nm were uniformly deposited onto the SWCNTs. Under same Pt loading mass and experimental conditions, the SWCNTs–Pt–Co catalyst shows higher electrocatalytic activity and improved resistance to CO poisoning than the SWCNTs–Pt catalyst.