Effect of bimodal mesoporous carbon as PtRu catalyst support for direct methanol fuel cells

Abstract

Mesoporous carbons (MCs) with different pore sizes were synthesized and evaluated as a catalyst support for fuel cells. The MCs were obtained from resorcinol–formaldehyde precursors, polymerized in the presence of polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (cationic polyelectrolyte) as a structuring agent and commercial silica (Sipernat® or Aerosil®) as the hard template. The MC obtained with Aerosil® shows a broad pore size distribution with a maximum at 21 nm. On the other hand, the MCs with Sipernat® show a bimodal pore size distribution, with a narrow peak centered at 5 nm and a broad peak with a maximum ca. 30 nm. All MCs present a high specific surface area (800–1000 m² g⁻¹) and total pore volume ranging from 1.36 to 1.69 cm³ g⁻¹. PtRu nanoparticles were deposited onto the MC support by an impregnation–reduction method with NaBH₄ at 80 °C in basic media. The electrochemical characterization reveals improved electrocatalysis towards the methanol oxidation for the catalyst deposited over the carbon with the highest total pore volume. This catalyst also presented the highest CO₂ conversion efficiency, ca. 80%, for the methanol oxidation as determined by differential electrochemical mass spectroscopy analysis. Moreover, the catalyst as a fuel cell anode showed the best performance, reaching a power density of 125 mW cm⁻² at 90 °C with methanol as fuel and dry O₂.