5 research outputs found
Diamond Nanoparticles as a Support for Pt and PtRu Catalysts for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
Diamond in nanoparticle form is a promising material
that can be
used as a robust and chemically stable catalyst support in fuel cells.
It has been studied and characterized physically and electrochemically,
in its thin film and powder forms, as reported in the literature.
In the present work, the electrochemical properties of undoped and
boron-doped diamond nanoparticle electrodes, fabricated using the
ink-paste method, were investigated. Methanol oxidation experiments
were carried out in both half-cell and full fuel cell modes. Platinum
and ruthenium nanoparticles were chemically deposited on undoped and
boron doped diamond nanoparticles through the use of NaBH<sub>4</sub> as reducing agent and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) as
a surfactant. Before and after the reduction process, samples were
characterized by electron microscopy and spectroscopic techniques.
The ink-paste method was also used to prepare the membrane electrode
assembly with Pt and Pt–Ru modified undoped and boron-doped
diamond nanoparticle catalytic systems, to perform the electrochemical
experiments in a direct methanol fuel cell system. The results obtained
demonstrate that diamond supported catalyst nanomaterials are promising
for methanol fuel cells