Controlled synthesis of mesoporous carbon modified by tungsten carbides as an improved electrocatalyst support for the oxygen reduction reaction
- ORNL
Mesoporous carbon was modified with tungsten carbides by the carbothermal hydrogen reduction of a layer of chemisorbed 1:12 phosphotungstic anions (PW{sub 12}O{sub 40}{sup 3-}) on carbon surfaces. Depending on the temperature of carbothermal treatment, different tungsten species, i.e., W, W{sub 2}C, WC, were formed on the carbon matrix. No significant changes in both surface areas and mesostructures were observed during the formation of various tungsten species on carbon surfaces under high-temperature conditions. A uniform dispersion of Pt nanoparticles (1-6 nm) can be achieved via nanoconfinement on the surfaces of both mesoporouscarbon and tungsten carbide-modified mesoporous carbon. Pt nanoparticles supported on mesoporous carbons modified with tungsten carbide (Pt/WC-C) exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic activities relative to the control, in which mesoporous carbons without carbide modification were directly used as a support (Pt/C). In addition, both enhanced thermal stability and good electrochemical stability were observed for the Pt/WC-C electrocatalyst.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 1044680
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 193, Issue 2; ISSN 0378-7753
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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