| Abstract: | A novel nanocomposite Cu/PtFe/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was designed, prepared and examined as a cathode catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The effects of Fe and Cu on oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and methanol tolerance were investigated by varying their amounts or their configurations in the nanocomposite. The experimental results show that PtFe alloy on CNTs could not enhance methanol tolerance, but could improve the ORR activity. Cu was deposited on PtFe/CNTs to obtain better methanol tolerance. The optimum molar ratio of Cu/Pt/Fe in Cu/PtFe/CNTs is 2.1:1:0.7. After 500 cycles in 1 M HClO4 solution, the Cu/PtFe/CNTs catalyst is fairly stable with 92% of its original ORR activity and 89.6% of its original electrochemical active surface areas (EAS) maintained. |
