Title page for ETD etd-011312-130220

Document Type thesis

Author Name geng, xi

URN etd-011312-130220

Title synthesis and characterization of nanostructured carbon supported Pt-based electrocatalysts

Degree MS

Department Materials Science & Engineering

Advisors
Jianyu Liang, Advisor
Richard D. Sisson, Jr., Department Head
Ravindra Datta, Committee Member

Keywords
Electrocatalyst
CNTs
Fuel cell

Date of Presentation/Defense 2012-01-09

Availability restricted

Abstract
Fuel cell, as an alternative green power source for automobiles and portable electronics, has attracted worldwide attention due to its desirable properties such as high energy density and low greenhouse gas emission. Despite great progress in the past decades, several challenges still remain as obstacles for the large-scale commercialization. Among them, the high cost of Pt-based electrode material is considered as a major barrier, while the life span or stability of electrode catalysts is another concern since the electrocatalysts can be easily poisoned during the fuel cell operation. In order to overcome these issues, nanostructured carbon materials, especially carbon nanotubes (CNTs), are studied as catalyst support. In addition, recent research also suggests that the coupling of a second metal element with Pt can effectively protect the electrocatalysts from being poisoned and thus improve their long-term durability.

The objective of the present work was to demonstrate an efficient synthetic method for the preparation of CNTs supported binary PtM (M=Ru, Sn) electrocatalysts. In this project, a polymer wrapping technique along with an in-situ polyol reduction strategy was adopted to decorate well-dispersed binary PtM nanoparticles on the surface of modified-CNTs. The unique nanostructures as well as the excellent catalytic activities of the as-prepared nanohybirds were investigated through a diversity of physiochemical and electrochemical characterization techniques. This fabrication method provided a simple and convenient route to assemble Pt-based catalyst on carbon substrates, which is useful for the further development of high-performance fuel cell catalysts.

Files
Master_Thesis_by_Xi_Geng.pdf
indicates that a file or directory is accessible from the WPI campus network only.

Browse by Author | Browse by Department | Search all available ETDs

Questions? Email etd-questions@wpi.edu
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu

Document Type	thesis
Author Name	geng, xi
URN	etd-011312-130220
Title	synthesis and characterization of nanostructured carbon supported Pt-based electrocatalysts
Degree	MS
Department	Materials Science & Engineering
Advisors	Jianyu Liang, Advisor Richard D. Sisson, Jr., Department Head Ravindra Datta, Committee Member
Keywords	Electrocatalyst CNTs Fuel cell
Date of Presentation/Defense	2012-01-09
Availability	restricted
Abstract Fuel cell, as an alternative green power source for automobiles and portable electronics, has attracted worldwide attention due to its desirable properties such as high energy density and low greenhouse gas emission. Despite great progress in the past decades, several challenges still remain as obstacles for the large-scale commercialization. Among them, the high cost of Pt-based electrode material is considered as a major barrier, while the life span or stability of electrode catalysts is another concern since the electrocatalysts can be easily poisoned during the fuel cell operation. In order to overcome these issues, nanostructured carbon materials, especially carbon nanotubes (CNTs), are studied as catalyst support. In addition, recent research also suggests that the coupling of a second metal element with Pt can effectively protect the electrocatalysts from being poisoned and thus improve their long-term durability. The objective of the present work was to demonstrate an efficient synthetic method for the preparation of CNTs supported binary PtM (M=Ru, Sn) electrocatalysts. In this project, a polymer wrapping technique along with an in-situ polyol reduction strategy was adopted to decorate well-dispersed binary PtM nanoparticles on the surface of modified-CNTs. The unique nanostructures as well as the excellent catalytic activities of the as-prepared nanohybirds were investigated through a diversity of physiochemical and electrochemical characterization techniques. This fabrication method provided a simple and convenient route to assemble Pt-based catalyst on carbon substrates, which is useful for the further development of high-performance fuel cell catalysts.
Files	Master_Thesis_by_Xi_Geng.pdf indicates that a file or directory is accessible from the WPI campus network only.