Synthesis of graphitic mesoporous carbons with high surface areas and their applications in direct methanol fuel cells

A graphitic mesoporous carbon (denoted as GMC) was synthesized using resorcinol and formaldehyde as carbon precursors and iron nitrate as a graphitization catalyst. The GMC was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen adsorption. The results show that the GMC has a mesoporous structure and a high surface area of 403 m2 g−1, and particularly, a well-defined graphitic framework. Using the GMC as the support, a PtRu/GMC was synthesized to act as an electrocatalyst for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). A counterpart with Vulcan® XC-72 (denoted as XC) as the support was prepared for comparison. TEM images show that PtRu nanoparticles are distributed uniformly on the carbon supports for both electrocatalysts. The electrochemical activity of the PtRu/GMC toward the MOR is slightly higher than that of the PtRu/XC in both half cell and single cell measurements. The 1500 h stability test of a single cell suggests that the PtRu/GMC is excellent stable.

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► A novel graphitic mesoporous carbon (GMC) was synthesized.
► The GMC was used as the support to prepare a PtRu/GMC catalyst.
► The PtRu/GMC has excellent activity and stability for MOR under DMFC operating conditions.
► This approach provides a simple route to synthesize graphitic mesoporous carbons.