Preparation and Performance of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes Supported Anode Catalysts (20%Pt-10%Ru) of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

The platinum (20% in mass) and ruthenium(10% in mass) catalysts supported on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were prepared by liquid reduction method. The optimum technical conditions for purifying the SWCNTs were experimentally selected to be: nitric acid concentration of 4M, reaction temperature of 103 C and reaction time of 12 h. The optimum technical conditions for preparing 20%Pt-10%Ru/SWCNTs were determined to be: H(2)PtCl(6)-RuCl(3) concentrations of 0.005 g.cm(-3) 0.005 g.cm(-3) and temperature of 60 degrees C with the purified SWCNTs as carrier. Under the optimum preparation conditions, the synthesized 20%Pt-10%Ru/ SWCNTs has smaller average catalyst particle diameter(d), larger specific surface area(alpha) and higher power density(P) (d=2.1nm, alpha=136.31 m(2).g(-1) and P=117.1 mW.cm(-2).g(-1)) than 20%Pt-10%Ru/C (JM) (d=2.4nm, alpha=119.27 m(2).g(-1) and P=75mW.cm(-2).g(-1)), 20%Pt-10%Ru/MWCNTs ( d=3.0nm, alpha=95.42 m(2).g(-1) and P=67mW.cm(-2).g(-1)) and 20%Pt-10%Ru/C (d=3.1nm, alpha=92.34 m(2).g(-1) and P=63mW.cm(-2).g(-1), respectively.