Effect of Nitric Acid on Modified Mesoporous Carbon as Catalyst Support of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Abstract

Nitric acid modified Mesoporous carbon (CMK3) supported Pt particles have been prepared by chemical reduction with NaBH4 as a reducing agent. Energy dispersive spectrometer shows that the catalysts have some oxygenic functional groups. The activity of the composite catalysts for methanol electrooxidation was investigated by using cyclic votammogram and chronoamperometry in acid media. The results indicated that modified mesoporous carbon can improve the catalytic ability of Pt catalyst for methanol electrooxidation and antipoison capability for CO. The composite electrode modified by 0.23 g nitric acid has the highest electrochemical ability.