Macroporous 3D Architectures of Self-Assembled MWCNT Surface Decorated with Pt Nanoparticles as Anodes for a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Abstract

Microchannelled 3D architectures composed of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) surface decorated with Pt nanoparticles and chitosan (CHI) are prepared by an ice segregation induced self-assembly (ISISA) process. The microchannelled structures are highly porous (specific gravity ∼10-2) and exhibit excellent electron conductivity (2.5 S·cm-1) thanks to both the high content of MWCNTs (up to 89 wt %) and their interconnection. The Pt/MWCNT/CHI 3D architectures provide remarkable performance as anodes for a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC).