Synthesis and electro-catalytic activity of methanol oxidation on nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes supported Pt electrodes

Template synthesis of various nitrogen containing carbon nanotubes using different nitrogen containing polymers and the variation of nitrogencontent in carbon nanotube (CNT) on the behaviour of supported Pt electrodes in the anodic oxidation of methanol in direct methanol fuel cells wasinvestigated. Characterizations of the as-prepared catalysts are investigated by electron microscopy and electrochemical analysis. The catalyst withN-containing CNT as a support exhibits a higher catalytic activity than that carbon supported platinum electrode and CNT supported electrodes.The N-containing CNT supported electrodes with 10.5% nitrogen content show a higher catalytic activity compared to other N-CNT supportedelectrodes. This could be due to the existence of additional active sites on the surface of the N-containing CNT supported electrodes, which favoursbetter dispersion of Pt particles. Also, the strong metal-support interaction plays a major role in enhancing the catalytic activity for methanoloxidation.