Effects of Microwave Power on Performance of Pt/CeO₂MWCNTs Catalysts Prepared by Microwave-Assisted Polyol Process for Methanol Electrooxidation

Abstract

Pt/CeO2/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Pt/CeO2/MWCNTs) catalysts have been synthesized by microwave-assisted polyol process at different microwave power values. The obtained samples have been characterized by physical examinations and electrochemical measurements. The effects of different microwave power on performance of Pt/CeO2/MWCNTs have been mainly investigated. The results of physical examinations show that Pt nanoparticles have a narrow size and Pt nanoparticles and CeO2 units are highly dispersed on the surface of MWCNTs. The results of electrochemical measurements present that Pt/CeO2/MWCNTs catalysts by microwave-assisSubscript textted polyol process have higher catalytic activity and stability than Pt/MWCNTs catalyst by the same procedure. When the value of microwave power is 70%, the Pt/CeO2/MWCNTs catalyst has the smallest particle size and exhibits the highest activity and stability of methanol electrooxidation.