WO3 Nanoparticles Synthesized Through Ion Exchange Route as Pt Electrocatalyst Support for Alcohol Oxidation

Tungsten oxide (WO₃) nanocrystals with the diameter <5 nm supported on porous carbonized resin (denoted as C‐WO₃) are synthesized. The WO₃ precursors are dispersed at ion level through ion exchange route, then reduced to WO₃ nanocrystals. Pt nanoparticles are loaded on the porous C‐WO₃ matrix (denoted as Pt/C‐WO₃) and used as electrocatalyst in fuel cell for alcohol oxidation, in which WO₃ is found efficient promotion effect on Pt electrocatalyst in the electrochemical activity and stability. Thereinto, Pt/C‐WO₃ gives 1.63 times higher current densities than the commercial Pt/C (TKK) for methanol oxidation at the same Pt loadings. Moreover, Pt/C‐WO₃ electrocatalyst shows excellent properties in mass transfer than Pt/C (TKK). The present method can be readily scaled up for the production of other nanomaterials as well as WO₃.