Baronia, Richa and Goel, Jyoti and Singhal, Sunil K. (2019) High Methanol Electro-Oxidation Using PtCo/Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) Anode Nanocatalysts in Direct Methanol Fuel Cell. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 19 (7). pp. 4315-4322. ISSN 1533-4880

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Abstract

The higher methanol utilization efficiency in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is one of the key parameter to show the performance of an anode catalyst. Here in, we have synthesized a highly efficient and stable PtCo anode nanocatalysts (2-4 nm size) supported on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for the electro-oxidation of methanol in a DMFC. Three different compositions of anode catalysts PtCo (1:7)/rGO, PtCo (1:9)/rGO and PtCo (1:11)/rGO comprising of 20% metal loading by weight of rGO are being investigated for methanol electro-oxidation in acidic medium with different methanol concentration using cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical response from three different catalysts revealed that the PtCo (1:9)/rGO catalyst has efficiently oxidized 5 M methanol in a half cell configuration. A peak anodic current density of 46.8 mA/cm(2) and a power density of 136.8 mW/cm(2) are achieved using PtCo (1:9)/rGO anode catalyst at 100 degrees C for DMFC with 5 M methanol supply with negligible amount of methanol crossover. About 34% Faradaic efficiency and 22% energy efficiency is attained using PtCo (1:9)/rGO anode catalyst for a DMFC. Further, the 3% methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) efficiency is attained as revealed by evaluating the MOR by-products i.e., formic acid and formaldehyde formation. The results indicate excellent catalytic behavior of PtCo (1:9)/rGO towards MOR and its potential application as anode catalyst in DMFC.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Copyright for this article belongs to M/s American Scientific Publishers.
Subjects:	Chemistry Materials Science Applied Physics/Condensed Matter Nanoscience/ Nanotechnology Physics
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
Depositing User:	Mr. Yogesh Joshi
Date Deposited:	19 Aug 2026 11:20
Last Modified:	19 Aug 2026 11:20
URI:	https://npl.csircentral.net/id/eprint/4231

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