Tailoring carbon xerogels' properties to enhance catalytic activity of Pt catalysts towards methanol oxidation

Thework presented herein dealswith the study of the influence of the synthesis conditions on the properties of carbon xerogels (CXGs). The study analyzes the effect of the composition of the mixture of carbon gel precursors and the pH on the porous structure, the arrangement of carbon, the surface chemistry and the electrical conductivity. Certain conditions allow obtaining CXGswith a high porosity, high ordering and polymerization degree. CXGs are used as Pt catalyst supports for the electro-oxidation of methanol. CXGs with the higher ordering and polymerization degree result in catalysts with low crystal sizes and good metallic distribution. Suchcatalysts showthe highest activities towardsmethanoloxidation.CXG-supported Pt catalysts outperforma Vulcan-supported Pt catalyst prepared in the same conditions.