Tin and iridium oxide: characterization and investigation of catalytic activity for ethanol electrooxidation

Author(s)

Demetrius Profeti

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2004-11-30

Examining board members

Paulo Olivi; Adalgisa Rodrigues de Andrade; Luiz Henrique Dall Antonia; Cecílio Sadao Fugivara; Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza

• Advisor: Paulo Olivi

Abstract

In this work was investigated the effect of the IrO2 addition (1 30 mol% contents) on SnO2 electrodes and its electrocatalytic activities towards ethanol oxidation. The new approach of this work is related to the IrO2 contents on the electrodes compositions shifts between the dopant levels until Dimensionally Stable Anodes (DSA®) concentrations. The preparation method used allowed to obtain homogeneous films with controlled stoichiometry, that was confirmed by Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed a cracked morphology and the formation of solid solution, respectively. The voltammetric experiments showed an increase in the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) currents and the voltammetric charges for the higher IrO2 contents. In addition, the stability order found is 30 >> 1 @ 10 > 5 mol% IrO2. In order to investigate the electrodes activities towards ethanol oxidation, the cyclic voltammetry, electrolysis and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) in situ techniques were used. The presence of products as acetaldehyde, acetic acid and CO2 was detected. Acetic acid was not oxided in the experimental conditions employed. The 5 and 10 mol% IrO2 electrodes showed higher ethanol oxidation rates with the preferential acetic acid formation. The electrodes containing 1 and 30 mol% IrO2 are more selective to CO2 production than the others compositions. The addition of 1 mol% IrO2 was enough to enhance the electrode stability, that make it applicable. Another interesting observation is that the IrO2 1 mol% electrode presented the smaller selectivity for the acid acetic formation allowing the complete oxidation of ethanol possible. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 00/08734-3 - Study of the electrocatalytic activity of oxide films of (iridium + tin + titanium) in the electro-oxidation of ethanol, acetaldehyde and acetic acid
• Grantee: Demetrius Profeti
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate