Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on carbon-nanotubes/graphite electrode modified with platinum and molybdenum oxide nanoparticles

Electrochemical codeposition and electrocatalytic properties of platinum and molybdenum oxide nanoparticles(Pt-MoOx) on carbon-nanotubes/graphite electrode for methanol oxidation were investigated.The micrograph and elemental composition of the resulting Pt-MoOx/CNTs/graphite electrode were characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS).The results show that the Pt-MoOx particles with the average size of about 50 nm are highly dispersed on the CNTs surface.The Pt-MoOx/CNTs/graphite electrode delivers excellent electrocatalytic properties for methanol oxidation.The highest mass activity(Am)reaches 264.8 A/g at the loading mass of 159.3μg/cm2.This may be attributed to the small particle size and high dispersion of Pt-MoOx catalysts deposited on the CNTs surface.The kinetic analysis from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS)reveals that the existed MoOx phase can improve the chemisorptive and catalytic properties for methanol oxidation.