Template synthesis of microporous carbon for direct methanol fuel cell application

Ordered microporous carbon with a structure of amorphous carbon core and graphitic carbon shell was prepared using hydrogen-form zeolite Y as the template. Impregnation and chemical vapor deposition methods were employed to infiltrate carbon in the pores of the template. Physical adsorption of nitrogen, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscope, and field-emission transmission electron microscope techniques were employed to study the structural and morphological properties of the samples. The electrochemical properties of Pt supported on the carbon samples were examined and compared with a commercial catalyst. It was observed that Pt catalyst supported on a carbon with a core/shell structure has a higher specific activity for room-temperature methanol oxidation than the commercial catalyst.