Research progress on carbon-based support materials for direct methanol fuel cells

Methanol oxidation electrocatalysts are the key to the performance, life and cost of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). In order to obtain DMFCs with high power density and low production cost, the design and synthesis of anode catalysts with controllable composition, structure and morphology have attracted much attention. The particle size, particle size distribution, morphology, stability, dispersion and catalytic activity of anode catalysts are closely related to the anode supports, and carbon-based support materials have been widely used in DMFCs due to their excellent properties. Herein, the mechanism of methanol oxidation reaction in acidic and alkaline environments was introduced. And the application of different forms of carbon materials, such as carbon black, mesoporous carbon, carbon nanomaterials, graphene, oxygen-functionalized carbon, heteroatom-doped carbon, and metal oxide-modified carbon as catalyst supports in the field of DMFCs were then reviewed. Finally, the development trend of DMFCs was discussed. © 2024 Fine Chemicals. All rights reserved.