Investigation of the Synergism Effect and Electrocatalytic Activities of Pt and Ru Nanoparticles Supported on the Carbon Aerogel-Carbon Nanotube (CA-CNT) for Methanol Oxidation Reaction (MOR)

Abstract

Given that the catalyst and catalyst support properties have a key role to play in the electrochemical activity of fuel cells, in this research, the synergism effect of Pt and Ru nanoparticles reduced on catalyst support [synthesized Carbon Aerogel-Carbon Nanotube (CA-CNT)] was investigated. The catalyst support was synthesized by sol-gel method and the catalyst nanoparticles were reduced on catalyst support using impregnation and hydrothermal method. Different molar ratios of Pt:Ru (i.e., 0:1, 1:0, 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3) were applied as electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation Reaction (MOR). The electrochemical performance of these catalysts was compared with that of commercial Pt/C (20 % wt) for MOR. The physical properties of the synthesized catalyst support (CNT-CA) were studied using FESEM and BET techniques. Moreover, XRD and ICP analyses were employed for investigating each of the synthesized catalyst (Pt/CNT-CA and Ru/CNT-CA). The cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry methods were used to conduct electrochemical analysis. Research results indicated that synthesis methods were reliable. Moreover, CNT-CA had a proper performance as the catalyst support and the Pt:Ru with a 3:1 molar ratio was the best catalyst among all the synthesized catalysts for MOR.

Keywords

• fuel cell
• methanol
• synergism
• aerogel
• nanotube