Carbon-TiO_2 Composite Nanofibers as a Promising Support for PtRu Anode Catalyst of DMFC

摘要

Carbon-TiO_2 composite nanofibers, (C-TiO_2) NF, have been fabricated by electrospinning and used as a support for PtRu nanoparticles for the catalyst of methanol oxidation. The catalytic activity and durability of the prepared catalyst was compared with that supported on carbon black, Vulcan XC-72R, and TiO_2 nanoparticles. The crystal structure and electrocatalytic properties of the as-obtained catalysts have been investigated by X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The PtRu prepared on the (C-TiO_2) NF support showed a significant increase in the activity and durability, where the anodic peak current density increased by three times and the anodic potential shifted around 0.15 V compared to that supported on Vulcan XC-72R. The high stability and activity of the catalyst prepared on the (C-TiO_2) NF would be related to the role of the TiO_2 in decreasing the CO poisoning and the role of the carbon in keeping the high conductivity of the carbon support as well as the better dispersion of the catalyst nanoparticles on the nanofiber support.