Preparation of expanded graphite supported Pt nanoparticle catalyst and its electrocatalytic performance in the direct methanol fuel cell

Expanded graphite (EG) was prepared by intercalation oxidation of natural flake graphite with perchloric acid and Pt nanoparticles were then loaded on the surface of EG by means of liquid phase reduction method with ethylene glycol. The electrocatalytic performance of EG-supported Pt nanoparticle (Pt/EG) catalyst in the direct methanol fuel cell was investigated with the help of XRD, TEM, SEM and cyclic voltammetry (CV) characterizations. The results show that the Pt nanoparticles with average diameter of 2.56 nm are well dispersed on the surface of EG. The structure of expanded graphite sheets can obviously improve the electrocatalystic activity and tolerance to CO poisoning ability during methanol oxidation. Under the same conditions, the mass specific activity and the current density of current Pt/EG catalyst are 1.24 times and 1.5 times that of the commercial JM Pt/C, respectively.