Pt nanoparticles supported on Co embedded coal-based carbon nanofiber for enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards methanol electro-oxidation

A Co embedded coal-based carbon nanofiber (Co-coal-CF) was proposed as a promising support of the Pt nanocatalyst for the methanol oxidation reaction. The nanofiber support was fabricated by electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile, oxidized coal and cobalt acetate, followed by carbonization process. And then the Pt nanoparticles were deposited on Co-coal-CF to fabricate the supported electrocatalyst. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry revealed a significantly high methanol electrooxidation activity and stability for the Pt/Co-coal-CF compared to that of the Pt nanoparticles deposited on carbon nano fiber (CF), coal-based carbon nanofiber (coal-CF) and Co embedded carbon nanofiber (Co-CF), respectively. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.