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Direct methanol fuel cell; carbon aerogel; Pt; microwave-assisted polyol process; electrocatalyst; electrocatalytic activity.

A Pt supported on carbon aerogel catalyst has been synthesized by the microwave-assisted polyol process. The Pt supported on carbon aerogel catalyst was characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results show a uniform dispersion of spherical Pt nanoparticles 2.5–3.0 nm in diameter. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used to evaluate the electrocatalytic activity of the Pt/carbon aerogel catalyst for methanol oxidation at room temperature. The Pt/carbon aerogel catalyst shows higher electrochemical catalytic activity and stability for methanol oxidation than a commercial Pt/C catalyst of the same Pt loading.

Zhijun Guo¹ Hong Zhu² Xinwei Zhang¹ Fanghui Wang¹ Yubao Guo¹ Yongsheng Wei¹

1. Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
2. Institute of Modern Catalyst, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, School of Science, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China

Manuscript received

26 July 2010

Manuscript revised

14 September 2010