Study of methanol electrooxidation at GC electrodes modified with carbon nanotubes and metal ion complexes and their applications in fuel cells

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are being intensively studied because of their potential as clean and mobile sources of power [1]. To increase the catalytic activity of methanol electrooxidation an extensive effort has been devoted towards the development of catalyst. As a catalyst multi-walled CNTs have a great interest for studying because of their especial mechanical, electrical and structural properties [2]. The transition metal,nanoparticles are attracting intense scientific interest due to their potential applications in catalysis and electric materials [3]. The supported transition metal nanoparticles also exhibit high electrocatalytic performance for the applications related to the fuel cells [4] but the pristine surface of carbon nanotubes is relatively inert and difficult to support particles homogeneously so agglomerated nanoparticles produce. Consequently modification is common method and is essential for the deposition of catalysts and other species onto nanotube surfaces for nanocatalytic applications [5]. Since the surface of CNTs become active and dispersion of metal particles improve