Abstract:Electrochemical codeposition and electrocatalytic properties of platinum and molybdenum oxide nanoparticles (Pt-MoOx) on carbon-nanotubes/graphite electrode for methanol oxidation were investigated. The micrograph and elemental composition of the resulting Pt-MoOx/CNTs/graphite electrode were characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS). The results show that the Pt-MoOx particles with the average size of about 50 nm are highly dispersed on the CNTs surface. The Pt-MoOx/CNTs/graphite electrode delivers excellent electrocatalytic properties for methanol oxidation. The highest mass activity(Am) reaches 264.8 A/g at the loading mass of 159.3 mg/cm2. This may be attributed to the small particle size and high dispersion of Pt-MoOx catalysts deposited on the CNTs surface. The kinetic analysis from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) reveals that the existed MoOx phase can improve the chemisorptive and catalytic properties for methanol oxidation.

Key words: methanol oxidation; carbon nanotubes; molybdenum oxides; nanoparticles; fuel cells