Pt–Ru decorated self-assembled TiO2–carbon hybrid nanostructure for enhanced methanol electrooxidation

摘要

Porous titanium oxide–carbon hybrid nanostructure (TiO2–C) with a specific surface area of 350 m2/g and an average pore-radius of 21 · 8 Å is synthesized via supramolecular self-assembly with an in situ crystallization process. Subsequently, TiO2–C supported Pt–Ru electro-catalyst (Pt–Ru/TiO2–C) is obtained and investigated as an anode catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been employed to evaluate the crystalline nature and the structural properties of TiO2–C. TEM images reveal uniform distribution of Pt–Ru nanoparticles (d Pt − Ru  = 1·5–3·5 nm) on TiO2–C. Methanol oxidation and accelerated durability studies on Pt–Ru/TiO2–C exhibit enhanced catalytic activity and durability compared to carbon-supported Pt–Ru. DMFC employing Pt–Ru/TiO2–C as an anode catalyst delivers a peak-power density of 91 mW/cm2 at 65 °C as compared to the peak-power density of 60 mW/cm2 obtained for the DMFC with carbon-supported Pt–Ru anode catalyst operating under similar conditions.