Hydrothermal Synthesis of Pt--Ru--W Anode Catalyst Supported on Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Methanol Oxidation Fuel Cell

PtRuW/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanoparticles were synthesized using a hydrothermal method. To characterize the catalysts, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were carried out. The average diameter of the PtRuW nanoparticles supported on MWCNTs was 2.82 nm, and the particles were well dispersed. The catalytic activity of the PtRuW/MWCNTs was measured by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and impedance spectroscopy in a 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 solution containing 1.0 M CH 3 OH and was compared with that of a PtRu/MWCNTs catalyst prepared by the same method. The results demonstrate that the catalytic activity and tolerance performance of the PtRuW/MWCNTs for methanol oxidation are higher than that of PtRu/MWCNTs due to the effect of tungsten oxide, which cleans the active reaction sites on the platinum.