Titanium carbide-derived carbon as a novel support for platinum catalysts in direct methanol fuel cell application

The improvement of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) requires the development of highly active catalysts. Carbide-derived carbon (CDC) is a new class of carbon materials which are produced via selective extraction of the non-carbon compounds from metal carbides. Nanoporous carbon with a surface area of 906 m2 g−1 and mean pore size of 3.4 nm was produced in consequence of chlorinating pure titanium carbide. This material was oxidatively treated to create the nucleation sites for the metal precursor. An increase of oxygen content in the carbon sample was observed after the functionalization step. The CDC material was subsequently loaded with 18.62 wt.% platinum, with an average particle size of 1.16 nm, by wet impregnation and chemical reduction. As a result, an enhanced electrochemical activity towards oxygen reduction was observed. The maximum power density of 50.16 mW cm−2 was achieved and is subsequently 18% higher than the value measured for commercial platinum catalyst (20 wt.% Pt) on activated carbon. This increase can be attributed to good catalyst dispersion, high surface area and small platinum cluster sizes, thus, confirming the potential of carbide-derived carbon supported catalysts for DMFC applications.

► Titan carbide-derived carbon was used as a novel support material for direct methanol fuel cell catalysts. ► After functionalization a clear increase of oxygen content was observed. ► Platinum loaded on the derived carbon showed a high electrocatalytic activity. ► In comparison to a commercial catalyst an increase of fuel cell performance by 18% could be achieved.