title: An in situ carbonization-replication method to synthesize mesostructured WO3/C composite as nonprecious-metal anode catalyst in PEMFC.
abstract: A meostructured WO(3)/C composite with crystalline framework and high electric conductivity has been synthesized by a new in situ carbonization-replication route using the block copolymer (poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)) present in situ in the pore channels of mesoporous silica template as carbon source. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetry differential thermal analysis, and N(2) adsorption techniques were adopted for the structural characterization. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and single-cell test for hydrogen electrochemical oxidation were adopted to characterize the electrochemical activities of the mesoporous WO(3)/C composite. The carbon content and consequent electric conductivity of these high-surface-area (108-130 m(2) g(-1)) mesostructured WO(3)/C composite materials can be tuned by variation of the duration of heat treatment, and the composites exhibited high and stable electrochemical catalytic activity. The single-cell test results indicated that the mesostructured WO(3)/C composites showed clear electrochemical catalytic activity toward hydrogen oxidation at 25 °C, which makes them potential non-precious-metal anode catalysts in proton exchange membrane fuel cell.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Institution Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1295, Ding-xi Road, Shanghai, 200050, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiangzhi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Zile
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Chenyang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Zhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Liangxia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hangrong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jianlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi