Date of Graduation
Fall 2009
Degree
Master of Science in Materials Science
Department
Physics, Astronomy, and Materials Science
Committee Chair
Kartik Ghosh
Abstract
Alternative energy conversion systems are receiving great attention due to the depletion of fossil fuels and increasing environmental pollution. Due to excellent features such as high energy density, low operating temperature, and high energy conversion efficiency, direct methanol (DMFC) and ethanol fuel cells (DEFC) are promising power sources to address future energy problems. However, their performance is limited by low electrocatalytic activity of anodes for methanol and ethanol oxidations, and the high cost of noble metal platinum (Pt) based catalysts. One approach to enhance catalytic activity and to reduce the cost is to explore novel carbon materials as catalyst supports. In this work, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and graphene-supported Pt and Pt-Ru catalysts were synthesized by an ethylene glycol (EG) reduction method. Comparative electrochemical measurements of different carbon structure-supported catalysts were conducted using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry techniques. Experimental results show that SWCNT-supported Pt and Pt-Ru catalysts have a higher catalytic activity and lower charge transfer resistance towards methanol and ethanol oxidation in comparison to MWCNT-supported catalysts. The electrocatalytic activities of graphene-supported catalysts were compared with commercial Vulcan XC-72 carbon black-supported catalysts and graphite supported catalysts. Experimental results suggest that graphene-supported Pt and Pt-Ru nanoparticles possess superior electrocatalytic activity than carbon black and graphite supports.
Keywords
fuel cells, carbon nanotubes, graphene, platinum and platinum-ruthenium catalysts, electrocatalytic activity
Subject Categories
Materials Science and Engineering
Copyright
© Raghavendar Reddy Sanganna Gari
Recommended Citation
Sanganna Gari, Raghavendar Reddy, "Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Carbon Nanostructures Supported Catalysts and Their Effects on Methanol and Ethanol Electro-Oxidation" (2009). MSU Graduate Theses/Dissertations. 1582.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1582
Campus Only
