Platinum nanoparticles supported on hierarchical carbon foams for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol

A nanocomposite of platinum-loaded macroporous carbon foams (Pt/MCF) has been developed as an electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). The physical properties of MCF were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen sorption isotherm. Cyclic voltammograms show that the Pt/MCF catalyst, which possesses a specific hierarchical structure, has much larger electrochemical surface area than Pt supported on Vulcan XC-72 carbon black (Pt/C). Pt/MCF also exhibits superior electrocatalytic activity for MOR, mostly due to MCF contains well developed porosity (i.e., micro-, meso-, and macropores) which results in large specific surface area and pore volume.