Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T09:57:18.189Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of morphological characteristics of Pt nanoparticles supported on poly(acrylic acid)-wrapped multiwalled carbon nanotubes on electrochemical performance of direct methanol fuel cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 June 2012

Jun Young Oh ,
Hong Soo Choi ,
Min Seok Kim ,
Yern Seung Kim  and
Chong Rae Park
Jun Young Oh
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Advanced Materials and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carbon Nanomaterials Design Laboratory, Global Research Laboratory (GRL), Seoul National University, 599 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea
Hong Soo Choi
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Advanced Materials and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carbon Nanomaterials Design Laboratory, Global Research Laboratory (GRL), Seoul National University, 599 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea
Min Seok Kim
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Advanced Materials and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carbon Nanomaterials Design Laboratory, Global Research Laboratory (GRL), Seoul National University, 599 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea
Yern Seung Kim
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Advanced Materials and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carbon Nanomaterials Design Laboratory, Global Research Laboratory (GRL), Seoul National University, 599 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea
Chong Rae Park*
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Advanced Materials and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carbon Nanomaterials Design Laboratory, Global Research Laboratory (GRL), Seoul National University, 599 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The catalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) significantly influences the electrochemical performance of direct methanol fuel cells. Information about the factors that influence the electrochemical activity of the catalyst themselves is scarce; hence, guidelines for the preparation of Pt NPs that yields the best performances are lacking. With consideration for this situation, we systematically investigated the relationship(s) between the characteristics of Pt NPs and their electrochemical performance. The general characteristics of Pt NPs, such as the average size, loading density, and dispersion status on the support, were varied in the presence of poly(acrylic acid)-wrapped multiwalled carbon nanotubes by controlling the preparation conditions, including the pH of the aqueous solution, the reaction temperature, and the reaction time. The enhanced catalytic activity is attributable to higher degree of dispersion, specific surface area, and electrochemically active surface area of Pt NPs. The optimized catalyst exhibits a ∼165% higher catalytic activity toward methanol oxidation than the commercial E-TEK.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 27 , Issue 15: Focus Issue: Advanced Materials for Fuel Cells , 14 August 2012 , pp. 2035 - 2045
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.Arico, A.S., Bruce, P., Scrosati, B., Tarascon, J.M., and Van Schalkwijk, W.: Nanostructured materials for advanced energy conversion and storage devices. Nat. Mater. 4, 366 (2005).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Liu, H., Song, C., Zhang, L., Zhang, J., Wang, H., and Wilkinson, D.P.: A review of anode catalysis in the direct methanol fuel cell. J. Power Sources 155, 95 (2006).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Ren, X., Zelenay, P., Thomas, S., Davey, J., and Gottesfeld, S.: Recent advances in direct methanol fuel cells at Los Alamos National Laboratory. J. Power Sources 86, 111 (2000).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Kua, J. and Goddard, W.A.: Oxidation of methanol on 2nd and 3rd row group VIII transition metals (Pt, Ir, Os, Pd, Rh, and Ru): Application to direct methanol fuel cells. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121, 10928 (1999).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Aksoylu, A.E., Madalena, M., Freitas, A., Pereira, M.F.R., and Figueiredo, J.L.: The effects of different activated carbon supports and support modifications on the properties of Pt/AC catalysts. Carbon 39, 175 (2001).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Fraga, M.A., Jordão, E., Mendes, M.J., Freitas, M.M.A., Faria, J.L., and Figueiredo, J.L.: Properties of carbon-supported platinum catalysts: Role of carbon surface sites. J. Catal. 209, 355 (2002).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Park, G-G., Yang, T-H., Yoon, Y-G., Lee, W-Y., and Kim, C-S.: Pore size effect of the DMFC catalyst supported on porous materials. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 28, 645 (2003).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Rodríguez-Reinoso, F., Rodríguez-Ramos, I., Moreno-Castilla, C., Guerrero-Ruiz, A., and López-González, J.D.: Platinum catalysts supported on activated carbons: I. Preparation and characterization. J. Catal. 99, 171 (1986).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Zhou, Z., Zhou, W., Wang, S., Wang, G., Jiang, L., Li, H., Sun, G., and Xin, Q.: Preparation of highly active 40wt.% Pt/C cathode electrocatalysts for DMFC via different routes. Catal. Today 93, 523 (2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Wang, J., Yin, G., Shao, Y., Zhang, S., Wang, Z., and Gao, Y.: Effect of carbon black support corrosion on the durability of Pt/C catalyst. J. Power Sources 171, 331 (2007).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Steigerwalt, E.S., Deluga, G.A., Cliffel, D.E., and Lukehart, C.M.: A Pt−Ru/graphitic carbon nanofiber nanocomposite exhibiting high relative performance as a direct-methanol fuel cell anode catalyst. J. Phys. Chem. B 105, 8097 (2001).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Hsin, Y.L., Hwang, K.C., and Yeh, C-T.: Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-modified graphite carbon nanofibers as promising supports for PtRu catalysts in direct methanol fuel cells. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129, 9999 (2007).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Ermete, A.: Carbon supports for low-temperature fuel cell catalysts. Appl. Catal., B 88, 1 (2009).Google Scholar
14.Oh, J.Y., Jee, S.H., Kakati, N., Kim, S.H., Song, M.J., and Yoon, Y.S.: Hydrothermal synthesis of Pt-Ru-W anode catalyst supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes for methanol oxidation fuel cell. Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 49, 115101 (2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.Tian, Z.Q., Jiang, S.P., Liang, Y.M., and Shen, P.K.: Synthesis and characterization of platinum catalysts on multiwalled carbon nanotubes by intermittent microwave irradiation for fuel cell applications. J. Phys. Chem. B 110, 5343 (2006).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Hirsch, A.: Functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 41, 1853 (2002).3.0.CO;2-N>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17.Prabhuram, J., Zhao, T.S., Tang, Z.K., Chen, R., and Liang, Z.X.: Multiwalled carbon nanotube supported PtRu for the anode of direct methanol fuel cells. J. Phys. Chem. B 110, 5245 (2006).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18.Matsumoto, T., Komatsu, T., Nakano, H., Arai, K., Nagashima, Y., Yoo, E., Yamazaki, T., Kijima, M., Shimizu, H., Takasawa, Y., and Nakamura, J.: Efficient usage of highly dispersed Pt on carbon nanotubes for electrode catalysts of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Catal. Today 90, 277 (2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19.Li, W., Liang, C., Zhou, W., Qiu, J., Zhou, Z., Sun, G., and Xin, Q.: Preparation and characterization of multiwalled carbon nanotube-supported platinum for cathode catalysts of direct methanol fuel cells. J. Phys. Chem. B 107, 6292 (2003).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Kim, Y-T. and Mitani, T.: Surface thiolation of carbon nanotubes as supports: A promising route for the high dispersion of Pt nanoparticles for electrocatalysts. J. Catal. 238, 394 (2006).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21.Cho, H.G., Kim, S.W., Lim, H.J., Yun, C.H., Lee, H.S., and Park, C.R.: A simple and highly effective process for the purification of single-walled carbon nanotubes synthesized with arc-discharge. Carbon 47, 3544 (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22.Yang, S.J., Choi, J.Y., Chae, H.K., Cho, J.H., Nahm, K.S., and Park, C.R.: Preparation and enhanced hydrostability and hydrogen storage capacity of CNT@MOF-5 hybrid composite. Chem. Mater. 21, 1893 (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23.Yang, S.J., Cho, J.H., Nahm, K.S., and Park, C.R.: Enhanced hydrogen storage capacity of Pt-loaded CNT@MOF-5 hybrid composites. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 35, 13062 (2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24.Georgakilas, V., Kordatos, K., Prato, M., Guldi, D.M., Holzinger, M., and Hirsch, A.: Organic functionalization of carbon nanotubes. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124, 760 (2002).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25.Wang, Y., Xu, X., Tian, Z.Q., Zong, Y., Cheng, H.M., and Lin, C.J.: Selective heterogeneous nucleation and growth of size-controlled metal nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes in solution. Chem. Eur. J. 12, 2542 (2006).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26.Yang, W., Wang, X.L., Yang, F., Yang, C., and Yang, X.R.: Carbon nanotubes decorated with Pt nanocubes by a noncovalent functionalization method and their role in oxygen reduction. Adv. Mater. 20, 2579 (2008).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27.Wang, S., Jiang, S.P., and Wang, X.: Polyelectrolyte functionalized carbon nanotubes as a support for noble metal electrocatalysts and their activity for methanol oxidation. Nanotechnology 19, 265601 (2008).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28.Yang, D-Q., Hennequin, B., and Sacher, E.: XPS demonstration of π−π interaction between benzyl mercaptan and multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their use in the adhesion of Pt nanoparticles. Chem. Mater. 18, 5033 (2006).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
29.Lee, C-L., Chiou, H-P., Chang, K-C., and Huang, C-H.: Carbon nanotubes-supported colloidal AgePd nanoparticles as electrocatalysts toward oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline electrolyte. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 36, 2759 (2011).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
30.Zhao, Y., Yang, X., Tian, J., Wang, F., and Zhan, L.: Methanol electro-oxidation on Ni@Pd core-shell nanoparticles supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes in alkaline media. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 35, 3249 (2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
31.Noto, V.D. and Negro, E.: Development of nano-electrocatalysts based on carbon nitride supports for the ORR processes in PEM fuel cells. Electrochim. Acta 55, 7564 (2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
32.Noto, V.D. and Negro, E.: Pt–Fe and Pt–Ni carbonnitride-based ‘core–shell’ ORR electrocatalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Fuel Cells Bull. 10, 234 (2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
33.Neyerlin, K.C., Srivastava, R., Yu, C., and Strasser, P.: Electrochemical activity and stability of dealloyed Pt–Cu and Pt–Cu–Co electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). J. Power Sources 186, 261 (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
34.Zhang, X. and Chan, K-Y.: Water-in-oil microemulsion synthesis of platinum-ruthenium nanoparticles, their characterization and electrocatalytic properties. Chem. Mater. 15, 451 (2003).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
35.Katchalsky, A. and Spitnik, P.: Potentiometric titrations of polymethacrylic acid. J. Polym. Sci. 2, 432 (1947).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
36.Cushing, B.L., Kolesnichenko, V.L., and O’Connor, C.J.: Recent advances in the liquid-phase syntheses of inorganic nanoparticles. Chem. Rev. 104, 3893 (2004).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
37.Narayanan, R. and El-Sayed, M.A.: Catalysis with transition metal nanoparticles in colloidal solution: Nanoparticle shape dependence and stability. J. Phys. Chem. B 109, 12663 (2005).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
38.Joo, S.H., Choi, S.J., Oh, I., Kwak, J., Liu, Z., Terasaki, O., and Ryoo, R.: Ordered nanoporous arrays of carbon supporting high dispersions of platinum nanoparticles. Nature 412, 169 (2001).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
39.Tang, H., Chen, J., Nie, L., Liu, D., Deng, W., Kuang, Y., and Yao, S.: High dispersion and electrocatalytic properties of platinum nanoparticles on graphitic carbon nanofibers (GCNFs). J. Colloid Interface Sci. 269, 26 (2004).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
40.Cao, J., Du, C., Wang, S.C., Mercier, P., Zhang, X., Yang, H., and Akins, D.L.: The production of a high loading of almost monodispersed Pt nanoparticles on single-walled carbon nanotubes for methanol oxidation. Electrochem. Commun. 9, 735 (2007).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Oh et al. supplementary material

Supplementary figures

Download Oh et al. supplementary material(File)
File 123.9 KB