Ternary platinum-multiwall carbon nanotube-cobaltite composites for methanol electrooxidation

Abstract

Ternary nanocomposite films of platinum, multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and cobaltite with composition 60wt%Pt-xwt%Co3O4-(40-x)wt%MWCNT (where x = 0, 5, 10, 20 and 25) are obtained on glassy carbon (GC) electrodes and investigated for electrocatalysis of the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in 0.5 M H2SO4. The study shows that introduction of 5 to 25wt%Co3O4 in place of MWCNT in the 60wt%Pt-40wt%MWCNT composite reduces the onset potential (Eop) and increases the rate of MOR significantly; the magnitudes of decrease in Eop and increase in the rate being the greatest with 10wt%Co3O4. The rate of MOR improved more than 50% with 10wt%Co3O4. The poisoning tolerance of the composite electrode was also observed to be better in presence of the oxide. © 2011 by ESG.