The influence of carbon support porosity on the activity of PtRu/Sibunit anode catalysts for methanol oxidation

Sibunit Carbon‐Based Cathodes for Proton‐Exchange‐Membrane Fuel Cells

“…In search of better catalyst supports, various novel carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes and nanofibers [6], ordered mesoporous carbons [7,8] and disordered mesoporous carbons, such as Sibunit [9,10], were recently evaluated in the fuel cells.…”

“…As outlined in the ref. [9,10] the unique characteristics of the Sibunit carbon, such as high electronic conductivity (ca.…”

Synthesis of graphitic mesoporous carbons with different surface areas and their use in direct methanol fuel cells

“…Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) using polymer electrolyte membranes as electrolytes are presently being considered as promising portable power sources [1,2]. Pt and Pt alloys are used as anode and cathode electrocatalysts in DMFCs [3][4][5].…”

“…The electrocatalysts are usually supported on high surface area substrates, such as carbons, to provide highly dispersive active component and thus high electrochemical surface area (ECSA) [1,6]. Considering that the electrochemical reactions at the electrodes proceed at three-phase boundary where the transfer of the reactant (methanol or oxygen) occurs simultaneously with the transfer of protons (H + ) and electrons (e À ) [7], in addition to a high surface area, carbon supports used for electrocatalysts are required to have a sufficient electrical conductivity, i.e., more graphitic, to facilitate electron transfer and a high percentage of mesopores to help the reactants/products transport during the electrochemical reaction.…”

“…Uchida et al [8,9] found that metal nanoparticles residing in carbon pores below 40 nm in diameter, had no access to Nafion â ionomer (>40 nm micelles) and thus did not contribute to the electrochemical activity. Rao et al [1] observed that carbon materials with low surface areas, featuring a little contribution of pores below 20 nm, favoured high electrocatalyst utilization in the MEA of fuel cells with solid polymer electrolytes. Arbizzani et al [10] found that carbon supports with high accessible surface areas from pore size >20 nm would improve the contact of the PtRu electrocatalyst, methanol, and Nafion â ionomer in anode catalyst layers of DMFCs, leading to an improved DMFC performance.…”