PtCo supported on ordered mesoporous carbon as an electrode catalyst for methanol oxidation

A catalyst for methanol oxidation, PtCo supported on graphitized mesoporous carbon, has been synthesized and its electrochemical activity for methanol oxidation has been investigated. The graphitized mesoporous carbon support with ordered pore structure and high surface area of 585 m² g^-1 was prepared by one-step melt casting method using Al doped hexagonal mesoporous silica as hard templates and mineral pitches as carbon precursors followed by carbonization at 800 °C. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen sorption techniques. Cyclic voltammetry and amperometric i-t tests were adopted to characterize the electro-catalytic activities of the materials for methanol oxidation. The results show that the graphitized mesoporous carbon exhibits large electrochemical capacitance and good electric property. After supported with 20 wt%Pt or 20 wt%PtCo nanoparticles, the resultant mesostructured composites show 26-97% higher electrochemical catalytic activity for methanol oxidation than commercial catalyst 20 wt%Pt/C in mass activity (mA mg Pt^-1).