Nano-boron carbide supported platinum catalysts with much enhanced methanol oxidation activity and CO tolerance

Abstract

Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles were successfully deposited on the surface of nano-B₄C with fragmentary nanostructured carbon thin film through a polyol process in an ethylene glycol solution. The electrochemical surface area of the Pt/B₄C was investigated and showed remarkable enhancement compared with conventional Pt/C catalysts, which could be attributed to fast hydroxyl adsorption and high OH_ad coverage occurring during the hydrogen desorption process. It was also found that the novel Pt/B₄C catalysts presented much enhanced methanol oxidation activity and CO tolerance by a negative shift in the onset potential and an increase of the peak current density in comparison to Pt/C catalysts. Meanwhile, the Pt/B₄C showed an improved oxygen reduction reaction activity compared to the Pt/C catalyst.