Methanol electro-oxidation on mesocarbon microbead supported Pt catalysts

Mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) as Pt catalyst supports were characterized by X-ray electron diffraction, thermal field emission scanning electron microscope and electrochemical analysis. MCMB with different pretreatment were used as the catalyst supports. The XRD patterns show the existence of Pt and the micrograph of SEM shows Pt is absorbed uniformly on the surface of MCMB particles and the platinum grain size is ca. 3-5 nm. The effect of the pretreatment of the support on the catalyst performance of methanol electrooxidation was studied. Electrochemical analysis shows that MCMB are excellent candidates to be used as the support of catalyst for methanol electrochemical oxidation. The catalyst with MCMB boiled in KOH for 1 h as support exhibits a high catalytic activity during the electrooxidation of methanol.