(393q) Noble Metal-Based 1-D Nanomaterials in the Application of Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells

Direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) are envisaged to be a new generation of portable power sources which convert chemical energy into electrical energy with, theoretically, both economical and environmental benefit. Noble metal-based composite nanomaterials have shown great applicability as the cathode and anode catalysts in application of DAFCs. Furthermore, 1-D bimetallic nanomaterials have shown improved performance towards oxygen reduction reaction and alcohol oxidation reaction attributed to the ameliorated durability from the 1-D nanostructure and the enhanced catalytic activity from the incorporation of the second metal.

In this work, Pt-based nanomaterials with 1-D hollow nanostructure prepared from solution-based Cu nanowires or solid state electrospun Cu nanofibers have been successfully fabricated through a versatile galvanic replacement reaction process. The reaction condition was systematically investigated to optimize the chemical and morphological properties of the as-prepared nanomaterials according to SEM, TEM, XRD, and XPS. Moreover, the electrocatalytic activities of the Pt-based and Pd-based nanowires towards oxygen reduction reaction and ethanol oxidation reaction, respectively, have also been demonstrated and compared with the state-of-the-art Pt/C catalysts.