Nanostructured Pt Dispersed on Graphene-Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Nanomaterials as Electrocatalyst for PEMFC

Nanostructured platinum dispersed on functionalized graphene and functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube [Pt/(f-G-f-MWNT)] hybrid nanomaterials, a unique combination of three-, two, and one-dimensional structures, were used as an electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Electrochemical studies performed on Pt/(f-G-f-MWNT) composite materials by varying the ratio of the composition of f-G and f-MWNT for the investigation of the electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) have resulted in an ECSA as high as for the Pt dispersed on nanocomposite containing equal proportions of f-G and f-MWNT. Polarization graphs for the ORR reaction in PEMFC with Pt/(f-G-f-MWNT) as an electrocatalyst resulted in the best performance of for the cathode catalyst, agreeing with the electrochemical active surface area of Pt, due to good accessibility and uniform dispersion of the nanostructured Pt catalyst dispersed on the f-G-f-MWNT catalyst support, making them a suitable electrocatalyst for advanced PEMFC.