PtAg/MnOx/C as a promising electrocatalyst for glycerol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium

Author(s)

Garcia, Amanda C. ; Ferreira, Eduardo B. ; Silva de Barros, Vanine V. ; Linares, Jose J. ; Tremiliosi-Filho, Germano

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; v. 793, p. 9-pg., 2017-05-15.

Abstract

This study shows the positive effect that Ag possesses on Pt in order to promote the glycerol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium and how this effect can be boosted with an appropriate catalyst support, such as MnOx/C. The addition of Ag to the catalyst formulation firstly impacts on the structural and electronic features of the bimetallic PtAg/C catalyst. The diffractograms evidence the formation of a PtAg nanometric alloy, which alters the electronic environment of Pt as evidenced by the reduction of the Pt L-III white line hump in the XANES spectrum. This effect is intensified at high potential in the PtAg/MnOx/C catalyst, indicative of the low affinity of Pt to form surface PtOx species, leading to a Pt surface in which the intermediates formed are less strongly adsorbed. Moreover, MnOx can act as a source of oxygenated species required by the glycerol electro-oxidation reaction (GEOR), leading to an optimum catalytic surface. Such combination of factors leads to a very electroactive material for glycerol electro-oxidation as demonstrated by the cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometric curves and in the actual fuel cell, in addition to a different product distribution characterised by in-situ electrochemical Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (EC-FTIR). (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/10856-7 - Investigation of the mechanism of glycerol electro-oxidation on metallic nanoparticles
• Grantee: Amanda Cristina Garcia
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 12/05627-9 - Synthesis of gold nanoparticles using glycerol as reducing agent in alkaline medium: study of the variables of synthesis and application for the ethanol oxidation
• Grantee: Eduardo de Barros Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 13/16930-7 - Electrocatalysis V: electrocatalytic processes of chemical and electrical energy interconversion
• Grantee: Edson Antonio Ticianelli
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants