Radiolytic Preparation of MWNT-Supported Electrocatalysts with Monometallic (Pt), Bimetallic (Pt-Ru), Trimetallic (Pt-Ru-Sn and Pt-Ru-Mo), and Tetrametallic (Pt-Ru-Mo-Sn) Nanoparticles for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

摘要

Pt/MWNT, Pt-Ru/MWNT, Pt-Ru-Sn/MWNT, Pt-Ru-Mo/MWNT, and Pt-Ru-Mo-Sn/MWNT electrocatalysts were prepared via one-step radiation-induced reduction. MWNT and vinyl pyrrolidone were used as a support and an anchoring agent, respectively. The obtained electrocatalysts were characterized via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDAX), respectively. The catalytic efficiency of the electrocatalysts was examined via CO stripping and MeOH oxidation, for use in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The catalytic efficiency of the electrocatalysts for MeOH oxidation decreased in the following order: Pt-Ru-Mo/MWNT > Pt-Ru-Sn/MWNT > Pt/MWNT > Pt-Ru/MWNT > Pt-Ru-Mo-Sn/MWNT catalysts. The CO adsorption capacity of the electrocatalysts for CO stripping followed the order Pt-Ru-Mo/MWNT > Pt-Ru-Sn-Mo/MWNT > Pt-Ru/MWNT > Pt-Ru/MWNT electrocatalysts.