The synthesis characterization and applications of highly active new carbon-supported nano materials for direct alcohol fuel cells as a clean energy source

Today, a large part of energy needs are provided from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas but these fuels cause environmental pollution and these fossil fuels are in danger of extinction in the near future. For these reasons, scientists have begun to investigate eco-friendly and reliable alternative energy sources. New research is done for the development of fuel cells and to operate them with higher efficiency. Direct Methanol Fuel Cells, one of the members of the fuel cells that are considered to be an important part of future energy technology, take attention due to its high efficiency, near zero pollution and ease of application. In this thesis, three different platinum catalysts were synthesized to activate methanol at room temperature and graphene oxide (GO), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and graphene oxide-polyvinylpyrrolidone hybrid (GO-PVP) support materials were used to increase the active surface area of these catalysts. The electrochemical activities of synthesized Pt@GO, Pt@PVP and Pt@GO-PVP catalysts were compared against the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) by using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Chronoamperometry (CA). The formation and morphology of monodisperse Pt@GO, Pt@PVP and Pt@GO-PVP nanocatalysts were investigated by using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Raman Spectroscopy (RS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) techniques.