Preparation and studies of performance of multifunctional catalysts for ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium

• Grant number: 14/02387-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2014
• End date: November 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Hebe de las Mercedes Villullas
• Grantee: Gabriel Martins de Alvarenga
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The project involves the preparation, characterization and performance examination of nanostructured materials that could be used as catalysts for energy production employing fuel cells. The proposal aims to contribute to the development of new multifunctional catalysts to substitute Pt in the anodes of fuel cells fed with ethanol. Pt-based bimetallic catalysts containing Sn as second metal are very active for the oxidation of ethanol in acid medium, and in most cases Sn is found mainly in the form of oxides. Therefore, we propose to carry out a comparative study of properties and catalytic performances toward ethanol oxidation in alkaline medium of Pd nanoparticles supported on carbon (Pd/C) and on SnO2-carbon composites (Pd/SnO2-C). To evaluate if the catalytic activities of Pd-based catalysts are comparable to those of Pt-containing materials, measurements will be also taken for the analogous Pt-based catalysts (Pt/C e Pt/SnO2-C). The characterization of the catalyst´s properties will be done employing several techniques (X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). The catalytic activities will be evaluated using conventional electrochemical techniques (potential sweeps and chronoamperometry). With the purpose of establishing correlations between catalyst´s properties and their efficiency to promote the complete conversion of ethanol to CO2 and H2O, studies will also involve the spectroscopic analysis of reaction products and intermediates.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ALVARENGA, GABRIEL M.; COUTINHO GALLO, IRA B.; VILLULLAS, HEBE M.. Enhancement of ethanol oxidation on Pd nanoparticles supported on carbon-antimony tin oxide hybrids unveils the relevance of electronic effects. JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS, v. 348, p. 1-8, APR 2017. (13/50206-4, 14/02387-2, 14/12255-6, 16/05041-5)