Platinum nanoparticles involved on nitrogen and sulfur-doped nanomaterial as fuel cell electrode

摘要

A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts a source fuel into an electrical current. It generates electricity inside a cell through reactions between a fuel and an oxidant, triggered in the presence of an electrolyte. Fuel cells have been attracting more and more attention in recent decades due to high-energy demands, fossil fuel depletions, and environmental pollution throughout world. In this study, a facile and cost-effective catalysts have been developed on platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) supported on nitrogen and sulfur-doped nanomaterial (PtNPs-NS). The successful synthesis of nanomaterials and the prepared glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surfaces were confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photo electron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. According to TEM images, the average particle sizes of PtNPs were found to be approximately 20-25 nm. The effective surface areas of NS/GCE and PtNPs-NS/GCE were calculated to be 105 and 518 cm~2/mg, respectively. The PtNPs-NS/GCE also exhibited a higher peak current for methanol oxidation than those of comparable GCE and NS/GCE, providing evidence for its higher electro-catalytic activity.