Effect of functionalized carbon as Pt electrocatalyst support on the methanol oxidation reaction

FTIRS and XPS spectra showed that after oxidative treatments using H2SO4 + HNO3 and HNO3 solutions the Vulcan XC-72R carbon support has been found to be more hydrophilic and richer in oxygen-containing functional groups. Consequently, the Pt electrocatalyst prepared on those functionalized carbon materials further to having good dispersion of metal presented a significant improvement of the electrocatalytic activity due to the synergistic effect between the metal nanoparticles and oxygenated groups on functionalized carbon. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.