Supported catalysts for alcohol oxidation synthesis and analysis of their catalytic activity

S.G. RAMOS; A. CALAFIORE; A.R. BONESI; W.E. TRIACA; A.M. CASTRO LUNA; M.S. MORENO; G. ZAMPIERI; S. BENGIÓ

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2012 vol. 37 p. 14849 - 14853

0360-3199

Supported Pt-Sn-Ir/C (P), Pt-Sn/C (PO) and PtRu/C (BH) catalysts with potential applicationin a direct alcohol fuel cell (DAFC) were prepared by chemical reduction employing Pechini(P), Polyol (PO) and NaBH4 (BH) methodology. The catalyst particles were characterized byhigh resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-rayspectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Cyclic voltammetry (CV),chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurementswere performed by using a glassy carbon working electrode covered with the catalyst ina 1 M (ethanol or methanol) + 0.5 M H2SO4 solution in the 25 to 60 C temperature range. Inall electrochemical measurements it was demonstrated that PtSnIr shows the best catalyticactivity for both alcohols oxidation. The improvement is attributed to the presence ofboth SnO2 and IrO2 oxide in the Pt composite, though influence of particle size can not bediscarded.