Performance of Pd Electrocatalyst Supported on a Physical Mixture Indium Tin Oxide-carbon for Glycerol Electro-oxidation in Alkaline Media

Author(s)

Ottoni, Cristiane Angelica ; de Souza, Rodiney Randello ; da Silva, Sirlane Gomes ; Spinace, Estevan Vitorio ; Brambilla de Souza, Rodrigo Fernando ; Neto, Almir Oliveirra

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Electroanalysis; v. 29, n. 4, p. 960-964, APR 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Palladium electrocatalysts, supported on Vulcan XC 72 carbon and indium tin oxide (ITO) with different ratios, were prepared by borohydride reduction method and analysed for glycerol electro-oxidation application in the presence of KOH solution. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to characterize the particle size and crystal electrocatalyst structures, whereas their catalytic activities regarding the glycerol electro-oxidation were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry and tested in a direct alkaline glycerol fuel cell (DGFC) by electrochemical techniques. Micrographs results showed that the ITO presence promotes a large agglomeration of particles. Pd/C-ITO electrocatalysts showed peaks associated with the face-centered cubic (fcc) structure of palladium and several others peaks associated with ITO used as support. Similar performance was found on all Pd/C-ITO electrocatalysts where measurements in CV were compared to Pd/C and Pd/ITO with Pd/C-ITO 50:50 chronoamperometry, presenting a better performance for glycerol electro-oxidation. When using Pd/C-ITO 85:15 electrocatalyst and 1.0mol L-1 glycerol at 90 degrees C, the maximum power density found was 2,1 times higher than that obtained using Pd/C and Pd/CITO electrocatalysts. Therefore, the physical mixture of ITO and carbon, to be used as a support improves the electrocatalytic activity for glycerol oxidation reaction. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50279-4 - Brasil Research Centre for Gas Innovation
• Grantee: Julio Romano Meneghini
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Centers in Engineering Program
• FAPESP's process: 14/09087-4 - Studies on the use of bioethanol in proton exchange membrane and solid oxide fuel cells
• Grantee: Marcelo Linardi
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants