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Microwave synthesis of MWCNT-supported PtRuNi catalysts and their electrocatalytic activity for direct methanol fuel cells

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Abstract

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 g−1pt. 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.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2018R1C1B6008646).

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  1. Sungpil Woo and Hyeongkyu Cho contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy and Environmental Division, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, 52851, Republic of Korea

    Hyeongkyu Cho, Youngwook Lee & Seokhee Lee

  2. Division of Advanced Materials, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, 34114, Republic of Korea

    Jungwon Kim

  3. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea

    Sungpil Woo

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  1. Sungpil Woo
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  2. Hyeongkyu Cho
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Correspondence to Youngwook Lee or Seokhee Lee.

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Woo, S., Cho, H., Kim, J. et al. Microwave synthesis of MWCNT-supported PtRuNi catalysts and their electrocatalytic activity for direct methanol fuel cells. J. Korean Ceram. Soc. 57, 192–199 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43207-020-00016-1

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