Preparation and characterization of Pt/superfine mesocarbon microbead powers electrocatalysts

Superfine mesocarbon microbead powders (SFMCMBs) as the new supports for platinum electrocatalysts were first investigated. The Pt/SFMCMB electrocatalysts were prepared by an impregnation-reduction method, with hexachloroplatinic acid as the platinum precursor and formaldehyde as the reducing agent. The catalysts were characterized with x-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission gun transmission electron microscope (TEM), and electrochemical analysis. TEM photos showed the platinum particles were dispersed uniformly on the surface of SFMCMBs and there existed a little aggregation of platinum particles in the Pt/SFMCMB catalysts. The TEM photos showed the existence of the platinum on the supports where the average platinum particle size were 4-6 nm. The electrochemical analysis proved that SFMCMBs are excellent candidates to be used as the support of platinum electrocatalyst for methanol electrochemical oxidation as the potential catalyst candidate for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs).