Colloid-imprinted carbon with tailored nanostructure as an unique anode electrocatalyst support for formic acid oxidation

Colloid-imprinted carbon (CIC) with tailored mesopore size of ca. 22 nm and highly developed interconnected nanoporous structure was synthesized and explored for the first time as an anode catalyst support in direct formic acid fuel cell. The CIC-22 possesses superb structural characteristics such as uniform morphology, well-developed porosity, large specific surface area and pore volume, and high electrical conductivity. The unique characteristics make the CIC-22 a potentially effective support for Pt–Ru anode electrocatalysts toward oxidation of formic acid. Enhancement by 78% in electrocatalytic activity toward the formic acid oxidation has been demonstrated by the CIC-22-supported Pt₅₀Ru₅₀ (60 wt%) catalyst compared with the commercial carbon black Vulcan XC-72-supported one.