A novel support of nano titania modified graphitized nanodiamond for Pt electrocatalyst in direct methanol fuel cell. (13th April 2015) - Zhao, Yuling
Abstract: Graphitized nanodiamond (GND) was prepared by annealing ND in a vacuum at temperature of 1300 °C for 2 h, followed by the synthesis of TiO2 modified GND (TiO2 /GND) using a microwave hydrolysis method. TiO2 /GND supported Pt (Pt/TiO2 /GND) electrocatalysts were synthesized by a microwave-assisted polyol process and characterized. Pt nanoparticles (NPs) supported on Vulcan XC-72 carbon (Pt/C) and TiO2 /C (Pt/TiO2 /C) catalysts were obtained according to the same method for comparison. The TiO2 /GND support showed much more excellent stability than carbon black and TiO2 /C in acid solution, and Pt/TiO2 /GND and Pt/TiO2 /C catalysts showed enhanced electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction due to the synergistic effect of Pt and support. It is worth mentioned that the Pt/TiO2 /GND demonstrated a better durability than the other two catalysts due to the higher stability of TiO2 /GND support and the anchoring effect of the TiO2 layer to Pt NPs. Highlights: Nano titania modified graphitized nanodiamond was used as support for Pt catalyst. The TiO2 /GND support possessed a higher stability than carbon black and TiO2 /C. The Pt/TiO2 /GND showed a higher catalytic activity for MOR and ORR. The Pt/TiO2 /GND had a better durability compared with the Pt/C and Pt/TiO2 /C.