The preparation of high activity DMFC Pt/C electrocatalysts using a pre-precipitation method

It is suggested that a Pt/C cathodic catalyst for the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) can be prepared with a pre-precipitation method, in which, H2PtCl6 is precipitated onto the carbon black as (NH4)(2)PtCl6 before H2PtCl6 is reduced to Pt. The electrocatalytic activity of this Pt/C-A catalyst for oxygen reduction is excellent because the Pt/C catalyst prepared with this pre-precipitation method possesses a small average particle size, low relative crystalinity and a large electrochemically active surface area. In addition, the pre-precipitation method is simple and economical and it can be used to prepare a Pt/C catalyst on a large scale.