The effect of functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the hydrogen electrooxidation reaction in reactive currents impurified with CO

•Pt nanoparticles supported on Functionalized MWCNT were prepared by polyol method.•The behaviour of the Pt–MWCNT as a CO tolerant catalyst for PEMFC has been studied.•Pt–MWCNT as anode of the PEMFC shows better performance than Pt–Vu at CO presence.•Pt–MWCNT is a promising catalyst material in H2 + CO low temperatures PEMFC.

The present article investigates the tolerant effect exerted by a functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) support compared with the Vulcan XC-72 support for a nanoparticulate Pt catalyst. The negative effect produced in the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) by the presence of a Pt contaminated with high CO coverage was analysed. This investigation was conducted using a rotating disk electrode (RDE) and a single cell with membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) with loads of 0.3 mg Pt/cm2 for the anode and 0.6 mg Pt/cm2 for the cathode at various poisoning times. To this end, polarisation curves were performed, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were analysed. In addition, the recovery of the poisoning/de-poisoning process was studied. The –OH groups anchored to the MWCNT support exert a protective effect on the Pt nanoparticles, making the catalyst more efficient in a PEMFC fed with H2 + CO.