Carbon‐Free Nanocoral‐Structured Platinum Electrocatalyst for Enhanced Methanol Oxidation Reaction Activity with Superior Poison Tolerance

Abstract

Abstract Poisoning from carbonaceous species and poor mass activity of catalysts are two major challenges that should be overcome for the commercial applications of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). In this work, superior poison‐tolerant, carbon‐free nanocoral‐structured platinum (ncs‐Pt) catalysts are successfully synthesized by using a micelle‐directed method. The morphology and pore size of ncs‐Pt are tailored by varying the compositional ratio of Pt in the precursor solutions and by changing the molecular ratios of different surfactant blocks. The physical properties of the ncs‐Pt catalyst are observed through field emission scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, whereas the electrochemical characteristics are analyzed through cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The developed ncs‐Pt (5 mM) catalyst exhibits a high density of porous structures, high index facets, lower d‐band center, and a highly negative onset potential (−0.59 V). Therefore, the developed ncs‐Pt catalyst offers enhanced mass activity 6.56 mA/μg and superior poison tolerance 5.62 for the methanol oxidation reaction.