Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on carbon-nanotubes/graphite electrode modified with platinum and molybdenum oxide nanoparticles

Electrochemical codeposition and electrocatalytic properties of platinum and molybdenum oxide nanoparticles (Pt-MoOx) on carbon-nanotubes/graphite electrode for methanol oxidation were investigated. The micrograph and elemental composition of the resulting Pt-MoOx/CNTs/graphite electrode were characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS). The results show that the Pt-MoOx particles with the average size of about 50 nm are highly dispersed on the CNTs surface. The Pt-MoOx/CNTs/graphite electrode delivers excellent electrocatalytic properties for methanol oxidation. The highest mass activity(Am) reaches 264.8 A/g at the loading mass of 159.3 μg/cm2. This may be attributed to the small particle size and high dispersion of Pt-MoOx catalysts deposited on the CNTs surface. The kinetic analysis from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) reveals that the existed MoOx phase can improve the chemisorptive and catalytic properties for methanol oxidation.