| Microwave synthesis of MWCNT‑supported PtRuNi catalysts and their electrocatalytic activity for direct methanol fuel cells |
Sungpil Woo3, Hyeongkyu Cho1, Jungwon Kim2, Youngwook Lee1
, Seokhee Lee1
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1Energy and Environmental Division, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology, Jinju‑si, Gyeongsangnam‑do 52851, Republic of Korea
2Division of Advanced Materials, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
3Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea |
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Received: November 11, 2019; Revised: November 24, 2019 Accepted: November 25, 2019. Published online: February 29, 2020. |
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| ABSTRACT |
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Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-supported PtRuNi catalysts were synthesized using a microwave heating process. The particle sizes and structures of the catalysts were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electrocatalytic activities of the catalysts for methanol electrooxidation were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and impedance spectroscopy. The TEM results revealed that the MWCNT-supported PtRuNi catalyst synthesized via microwave heating for 10 min showed a uniform distribution of nanoparticles with an average size of about 5 nm. The catalyst showed an electrochemically active surface area of 62.2 m2 g−1 and a mass activity of 148.64 mA gpt−1. A decrease in the microwave heating time increased the dispersion and reduced the size of the PtRuNi nanoparticles. Moreover, the improved performance of the catalysts can be attributed to their high proton and electronic conductivity due to nickel hydroxides. Nickel hydroxides produced on the surface of metallic Ni in the Pt lattice contribute to the catalytic activity of PtNi catalysts in direct methanol fuel cells. |
| Key words:
rect methanol fuel cells · Anodic catalyst · PtRuNi nanoparticles · Nickel hydroxides · Microwave heating |
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