Platinum Nanoparticles on Interconnected Ni₃P/Carbon Nanotube–Carbon Nanofiber Hybrid Supports with Enhanced Catalytic Activity for Fuel Cells

Abstract

A new class of hybrid support is prepared by chemical vapor deposition of acetylene yielding carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on electrolessly plated Ni3P on carbon nanotubes (Ni3P/CNT). The as‐prepared Ni3P/CNT–CNF hybrid is used to support platinum nanoparticles, produced by the microwave‐assisted ethylene glycol reduction method, as an electrocatalyst (Pt/Ni3P/CNT–CNF). The as‐prepared Ni3P/CNT–CNF hybrid and Pt/Ni3P/CNT–CNF catalyst are characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, and thermogravimetric analysis. Electrochemical evaluations of the electrocatalyst are performed for methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions. The electrochemical active surface area of Pt/Ni3P/CNT–CNF, evaluated both by hydrogen adsorption cyclic voltammetry (CV; 95 m2 g−1) and CO anodic stripping CV (106 m2 g−1), is higher than that of a Pt/CNT benchmark. Electrochemical evaluation of methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions indicate that as‐prepared Pt/Ni3P/CNT–CNF shows enhanced activity relative to that of commercial Pt/C‐JM and Pt/CNT. The superior performance of as‐prepared Pt/Ni3P/CNT–CNF is mostly attributed to the improved electron transfer and facilitated mass transport originating from the tailor‐made Ni3P/CNT–CNF hybrid support.

Grown Carbon Nanotubes on Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers as a 3D Carbon Nanomaterial for High Energy Storage Performance

“…grew graphene nanosheets on the SiO particles using ethanol and methanol as carbon sources. As it demonstrated in the literature, many sources of carbon molecules have been used such as methane, benzene, camphor, ethane, ethanol, carbon monoxide, hexane, naphthalene, anthracene, and others ,, . Lai et al .…”

“…The encapsulation of Co nanoparticles inside CNTs decreased the local work function of CFs due to the fast transfer of electrons from Co to CNTs ,, . Wu et al . reported about enhancing of catalytic activity of fuel cell by synthesizing of hybrid Pt/Ni 3 P/CNTs‐CNF nanomaterials produced via a microwave‐assisted ethylene glycol reduction method (schematic illustration and SEM image of this hybrid material represented in Figure a and b, respectively).…”

Randomly oriented Ni–P/nanofiber/nanotube composite prepared by electrolessly plated nickel–phosphorus alloys for fuel cell applications

“…Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) was carried out to grow CNFs on Ni-P/CNTs, and the detailed fabrication process was reported in our previous publications [31,36]. The amount of CNFs on Ni-P/ CNTs was adjusted through CVD time.…”

“…However, the electrical conductivity of the synthesized materials is not satisfactory because of the less ordered nature of CNFs. In our most recent work, we reported a method to disperse platinum nanoparticles on Ni-P/CNT-CNFs through a hybridization method, in which CNFs are grown on CNTs via electrolessly plated Ni-P alloys [36]. Herein we report the details in the preparation of the Ni-P/CNT-CNFs and applied the materials directly as electrocatalysts for methanoltolerant ORR.…”