Authors: Mohammad Karimi Hamid Reza Lotfi Zadeh Zhad Forouzan Aboufazeli Omid Sadeghi Ezzatollah Najafi
Publish Date: 2012/11/04
Volume: 23, Issue: 2, Pages: 385-392
Abstract
Nanoparticles of mesoporous silica are synthesized and modified by Polythiophene PT to improve the electrical conductivity Platinum nanoparticles are synthesized and deposited on the surface of the modified mesoporous silica The materials in each step are well characterized by Xray powder diffraction high resolution transmission electronic microscopy thermal analysis TGA/DTA nitrogen sorption analysis elemental analysis CHNS inductive coupled plasma and optical emission spectroscopy This composite is used as an anodic electrocatalyst for direct methanol fuel cell application The influence of loading of the electrocatalyst and temperature on the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell is studied and the results are discussed A maximum power density of 3596 mW cm−2 at a current density of 12944 mA cm−2 was obtained which is attributed to the dispersion and accessibility of the modified mesoporous silica support in the electrocatalyst mixture for the methanol oxidation reaction
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