Electrochemical evaluation of electrodeposited platinum on a modified carbon substrate with cobalt, nickel and copper doped zinc oxide for the methanol oxidation reaction

Abstract

Recently, methanol fuel cell systems have been attracted research activities by improving electrocatalysts to investigate facilitating the methanol oxidation reaction. ZnO and ZnO doped with other metals or metal oxide can be used as an additive in carbon substrate of an electrocatalyst to improve electro catalytic properties of a platinum electrocatalyst. In this work, a simple low temperature hydrothermal method has been used for synthesis of different morphologies of 1% mol Ni, Cu and Co doped ZnO nanostructures. The prepared nanostructures were used in carbon substrate of a platinum electrocatalyst on carbon paper. Then platinum was electrodeposited by simple cyclic voltammetry on a modified carbon substrate of electrocatalyst. Prepared electrodes were investigated for methanol oxidation reaction in a three electrode half-cell system by the electrochemical methods like as linear sweep voltammetry. The results revealed that with using Ni doped ZnO in carbon substrate, the current density was increased. While, with using Cu doped ZnO in carbon substrate, a significant reduction in anodic over voltage was observed.