Promoting the current for methanol electro-oxidation by mixing Pt-based catalysts with CeO2 nanoparticles

Pt particles were prepared through microwave radiation reduction of chloroplatinic acid in ethylene glycol and then adsorbed on carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The thus prepared catalyst was denoted as CNTs-Pt. CeO2 nanoparticles were prepared through molten salt method. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the morphology and structure of CNTs-Pt and CeO2. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), CO stripping and chronoamperometry methods were used to characterize the electrochemical behaviors of the catalysts. The results showed that CeO2 nanoparticles and CNTs-Pt catalysts can be mixed homogeneously and the current of methanol oxidation can be greatly increased by the mixed CeO2 nanoparticles. The reason for the increased activity was analyzed and ascribed to the promotion of CO electro-oxidation reaction kinetics by CeO2. The method of mixing co-catalyzing materials with Pt-based catalysts is effective and can find wide application in electro-catalysis.