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Indexed by:期刊论文

Date of Publication:2010-01-01

Journal:ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Included Journals:SCIE、EI、Scopus

Volume:3

Issue:8

Page Number:1121-1127

ISSN No.:1754-5692

Abstract:Highly active Pt-WCx/carbon nanotube (CNT) electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) have been developed by the combination of tungsten carbide with CNTs as electrocatalyst supports. The obtained WCx/CNT and Pt-WCx/CNT samples were characterized by XRD, TEM, XPS and electrochemical measurements. The results showed that nanostructured tungsten carbide particles on carbon nanotubes could be prepared by microwave-assisted thermolytic molecular precursor method, and the particle size of tungsten carbide increased with the increase of tungsten loading. The nanostructured WCx/CNTs showed electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction. The deposition of Pt nanoparticles on the WCx/CNTs resulted in higher electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction and better immunity to methanol than Pt/CNT catalysts. The unique electrocatalytic properties of the novel Pt-WCx/CNT electrocatalyst were attributed to a synergistic effect between Pt, WCx and the CNTs. The findings also indicated that WCx/CNTs were efficient electrocatalyst supports that could reduce Pt usage while the same electrocatalytic properties were kept for the ORR in direct methanol fuel cells.