Platinum nanoparticles supported on cerium dioxide carbon nanofibers as efficient methanol oxidation catalysts for direct methanol fuel cell
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Pt-based methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) electrocatalysts with high activity, stability, and carbon monoxide (CO) tolerance are critical for advancing direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). Herein, a low-Pt-content electrocatalyst (Pt/CeO2-CNF) is developed through electrospinning, high-temperature calcination, and sodium borohydride (NaBH4) reduction, featuring highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles anchored on oxygen vacancy (Ov)-rich CeO2 embedded within carbon nanofibers (CNF). The strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) induces Pt-O-Ce interfacial bonding, facilitating electron transfer and enhancing MOR performance. Pt/CeO2-CNF achieves a mass activity of 5.29 A mg-1 Pt, 3.5 times higher than commercial Pt/C, alongside exceptional stability (92% retention after 1,000 cycles) and CO tolerance. When deployed as a DMFC anode, it delivers a peak power density of 34.72 mW cm-2, outperforming Pt/C by 31%. Characterization results indicate that SMSI induces charge redistribution between Pt and CeO2, which synergistically enhances the reaction kinetics of MOR with the hydroxyl groups produced by CeO2 hydrolysis. In addition, the uniform dispersion of in-situ grown CeO2 is ensured on CNF, and Ov acts as an anchoring point to stabilize Pt nanoparticles, improving the stability of the catalyst. This work establishes a design framework for synthesizing high-performance Pt-based DMFC electrocatalysts through controlled structural and electronic modulation strategies.
Source: Nano Research
Authors: Quan Zhou, Fei Chen, Zexu Jia, Congju Li
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,290
OpenAlex ID: W4413432929