Enhanced methanol oxidation activity of Pt catalyst supported on the phosphorus-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes in alkaline medium

Phosphorus-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes (P-MCNTs) were synthesized by thermolysis and employed as the supports of platinum catalyst. It was found that Pt/P-MCNTs as an anode catalyst exhibited a much higher activity and better stability toward methanol electrooxidation than the Pt/MCNTs without phosphorus in alkaline medium, due to the higher Pt utilization ratio and Pt area-specific activity, the better electronic conductivity of P-MCNT support and the faster rate of charge transfer at the P-MCNTs/electrolyte interface, indicating a highly potential application of Pt/P-MCNTs as anode catalyst for methanol oxidation in alkaline DMFC. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.