Synthesis of Hollow-Cone-Like Carbon and Its Application as Support Material for Fuel Cells

A simple solvothermal method is employed to prepare a bellow conelike carbon (HCC) with all open hemline. The HCC was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, N-2 sorption, Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical techniques. Electrochemical characterizations show that activated HCC has improved corrosion resistance over Vulcan XC-72 carbon black. Platinum supported on this activated HCC was prepared and evaluated for methanol oxidation in acidic media for the first time. Pt/HCC electrocatalyst exhibits higher activity for methanol oxidation compared to Pt/C at the same Pt loading. It is believed that open, hollow HCC acts as a structure unit and facilitates the Mass diffusion and transfer inside the carbon cones due to larger orifices. The unique structure and higher corrosion resistance makes the Pt/HCC electrocatalyst a potential candidate to the used in direct methanol fuel cells. (C) 2009 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3056059] All rights reserved.