Pt electrocatalysts composited on electro-spun Pt nanowires for direct methanol fuel cells

Abstract

Two types of Pt nanoparticle electrocatalysts were composited on Pt nanowires and their electrocatalytic activities for methanol electro-oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells were investigated. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicate that the metallic Pt nanoparticles with the polycrystalline property are uniformly composited on the electro-spun Pt nanowires. The cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry results demonstrate that electrodes containing 40 wt% Pt nanoparticles exhibit the best catalytic activity for methanol electro-oxidation and the highest electrochemical stability among the three samples studied for use in direct methanol fuel cells.