Catalytic activity enhancement in direct alcohol fuel cell using single walled carbon nanotube doped catalyst layer

The catalyst layer plays an important role in determining the performance of a fuel cell. The effect of addition of single wall carbon nanotubes in direct alcohol fuel cell anode catalyst layer was studied in terms electrochemical activity and durability of the layer. Carbon nanotube incorporated catalyst layer was found to show up to 10 times more activity. The durability also significantly increased by doping with carbon nanotubes. It was deduced from the results that carbon nanotubes acts as an interconnect among carbon black particles. Carbon nanotubes were also studied as potential catalyst materials. The metallic nanotubes were found to show a higher electrochemical activity and were better catalyst for methanol oxidation.