title: Effect of surface modification of mesoporous carbon supports on the electrochemical activity of fuel cells.
abstract: Mesoporous carbon (MC) was prepared from mesoporous silica (SBA-15) via a conventional templating method for use as a Pt-Ru catalyst support in fuel cells. The effect of surface modifications of the carbon support at different pH on the electrochemical activities of the Pt-Ru/MC catalysts was investigated. The Pt-Ru nanoparticle size and loading were dependent on the surface characteristics of the MC. Base-modified MC-supported Pt-Ru showed the smallest average nanoparticle size (3.3 nm) and the highest loading (77%) among the chemically modified MC-supported Pt-Ru catalysts. The electrochemical activity of the catalysts was enhanced when the MC supports were treated with basic or neutral agents rather than by acid modification.
authors.affiliation: Korea CCS R&D Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, 152 Gajeongro, Yuseoung-gu, Daejeon 305-343, Republic of Korea. sjpark@inha.ac.kr
authors.forename: Soo-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Byung-Ju
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seul-Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee