Electronically conducting hybrid material as high performance catalyst support for electrocatalytic application

The electronically conducting hybrid material based on transition metal oxide and conducting polymer has been used as the catalyst support for Pt nanoparticles. The Pt nanoparticles loaded hybrid organic (polyaniline)–inorganic (vanadium pentoxide) composite has been used as the electrode material for methanol oxidation, a reaction of importance for the development of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). The hybrid material exhibited excellent electrochemical and thermal stability in comparison to the physical mixture of conducting polymer and transition metal oxide. The Pt nanoparticles loaded hybrid material exhibited high electrocatalytic activity and stability for methanol oxidation in comparison to the Pt supported on the Vulcan XC 72R carbon support. The higher activity and stability is attributed to the better CO tolerance of the composite material.