Tungsten Carbide Microspheres with High Surface Area as Platinum Catalyst Supports for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity

Abstract

Tungsten carbide (WC) support is synthesized by the template of amorphous carbon microspheres (CMS), which is prepared by a hydrothermal synthesis process using glucose as the carbon precursor. The WC/CMS support is characterized by XRD, SEM, and BET. Pt nanparticles are loaded on the WC/CMS support and Pt/WC/CMS catalyst is formed. The onset potential of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on Pt/WC/CMS is 120 mV higher than that on Pt/C, indicating the superior ORR performance of Pt/WC/CMS. The Pt/WC/CMS catalyst shows higher electrocatalytic activity for ethanol electrooxidation than Pt/C (E-TEK). The higher If/Ib ratio of Pt/WC/CMS indicates better resistance to carbon monoxide poisoning on the Pt/WC/CMS. The rate constant of oxygen reduction reaction for Pt/WC/CMS is twice as high as that of Pt/C, indicating the synergetic effects between the Pt and the WC support. The electrochemical stability of Pt/WC/CMS is higher than that of Pt/C, which can be attributed to the high stability of WC support.