Preparation of Pt/Buckypaper by Surface Modified Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in PEMFCs

As the key material of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), the carbon supported Pt nanoparticles are the most widely used catalyst for cathode and anode of PEMFC.

Recently we reported anultra-low Pt loading catalytic layer based on buckypaper for oxygen reduction reaction¹. The buckypaper is a double-layer thin film containing a multi-walled carbon nanotubes rich surface and a carbon nanofibers rich surface. And Pt has a gradient distribution in this catalytic layer in order to reduce the Pt content.

In this paper, varies of surface modification methods for MWNTs,such as oil-bath acidic reflux, ultrasonic and microwave treatment, were systematically studied,and the oxygen reduction activity of those treated MWNTs were measured. The results showed that surface modified MWNTs have better oxygen reduction reaction activity than the as received MWNTs. Among those treatments, microwave treated MWNTs have better performance than other treatments. Next step buckypaper will be prepared by surface modified MWNTs. As surface modification can also enhance the dispersion of the catalyst², it has a potential to show good ORR performance in a low Pt loading thus reduce the cost of catalyst.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support from the Shanghai Rising-Star Program (11QA1407200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21006073), the Scholarship Council and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities at Tongji University.

Reference

1. J.Zheng, T.Tian,Y. Gao, Q. Wu, J. Ma, J. Zheng. Int. J. Hydrogen.Energ, 39(2014) 13816.
2. Y. Xing, L. Li, C. Chusuei, R. Hull. Langmuir, 21 (2005) 4185.