Anode catalysts PtW/WO3 nanowires supported on gas diffusion layer of carbon

• Main Authors: Chia-shan Tsai, 蔡佳珊
• Other Authors: Dah-Shyang Tsai
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/50596349055087651953

碩士 === 國立臺灣科技大學 === 化學工程系 === 96 === We explore the potential applications of WO3 nanowires as the support for anode catalyst of fuel cell. The nanowires of one dimensional WO3 have been grown on the carbon paper in a tubular furnace. The diameter of nanowires ranges from 50 - 200 nm. Hydrogen reduction of WO3 nanowires reduces a part of oxide into W metal and produces W/WO3 nanowires. The W content of W/WO3 nanowires increases with reduction temperature, which is between 150 and 400�aC. The catalytic activity of WO3 nanowires toward methanol and ethanol oxidation is practically nil. The catalytic activity increases drastically after pulse deposition of Pt and the synthesis of PtW/WO3 anode catalyst. W/WO3 nanowires on carbon paper appear to be an ideal support for PtW catalyst which can be dispersed uniformly to enhance the activity. The oxidation currents of PtW/WO3 for methanol and ethanol fuel, measured using cyclic voltammetry, are generally higher than those of Pt/WO3 in both high and low potentials. The higher current values indicate the electrochemical activity of PtW/WO3 is superior, and generally increases with the reduction temperature. The CO stripping experiments demonstrate that the CO oxidation potential of PtW/WO3 is less than that of Pt/WO3. Therefore, the presence of W metal helps relieve the CO poisoning problem of Pt.