Pt-Ru decorated self-assembled TiO2-carbon hybrid nanostructure for enhanced methanol electrooxidation

Abstract

Porous titanium oxide-carbon hybrid nanostructure (TiO2-C) with a specific surface area of 350 m2/g and an average pore-radius of 21·8 Å is synthesized via supramolecular self-assembly with an in situ crystallization process. Subsequently, TiO2-C supported Pt-Ru electro-catalyst (Pt-Ru/TiO2-C) is obtained and investigated as an anode catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been employed to evaluate the crystalline nature and the structural properties of TiO 2-C. TEM images reveal uniform distribution of Pt-Ru nanoparticles (dPt-Ru = 1·5-3·5 nm) on TiO2-C. Methanol oxidation and accelerated durability studies on Pt-Ru/TiO2-C exhibit enhanced catalytic activity and durability compared to carbon-supported Pt-Ru. DMFC employing Pt-Ru/TiO2-C as an anode catalyst delivers a peak-power density of 91 mW/cm2 at 65 °C as compared to the peak-power density of 60 mW/cm2 obtained for the DMFC with carbon-supported Pt-Ru anode catalyst operating under similar conditions. © Indian Academy of Sciences.