Electro-Oxidation of Ethanol on PtSnRh/C-Sb2O5 center dot SnO2 Electrocatalysts Prepared by Borohydride Reduction

Author(s)

Castro, J. C. ^[1] ; Assumpcao, M. H. M. T. ^[1] ; de Souza, R. F. B. ^[1] ; Spinace, E. V. ^[1] ; Neto, A. O. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] IPEN CNEN SP, Inst Pesquisas Energet & Nucl, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ELECTROCATALYSIS; v. 4, n. 3, p. 159-166, SEP 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 10

Abstract

PtSnRh/C-Sb2O5 center dot SnO2 (90:05:05, 70:25:05, and 50:45:05) electrocatalysts were prepared in a single step using H2PtCl6 center dot 6H(2)O, SnCl2 center dot 2H(2)O, RhCl3 center dot xH(2)O as metal sources, sodium borohydride as reducing agent and a physical mixture of 85 % Vulcan Carbon XC72 and 15 % Sb2O5 center dot SnO2 (antimony tin oxide-ATO) as support. The materials prepared were firstly characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy. XRD showed peaks characteristic of Pt face-centered cubic structure and several others peaks associated with SnO2 and ATO, while studies showed the metal nanoparticles homogeneously distributed over the supports with average particle sizes of 2 nm for all electrocatalysts. The catalytic activity for ethanol electro-oxidation in acid medium was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chroamperometry (CA), and FTIR measurements at 25 A degrees C. The CV and CA results showed that PtSnRh/C-Sb2O5 center dot SnO2 (70:25:05) electrocatalyst exhibited higher performance for ethanol oxidation in comparison with others PtSnRh/C electrocatalysts prepared, while FTIR measurements showed that acetic acid, acetaldehyde, and CO2 are preferentially formed for all electrocatalysts. However, PtSnRh/C-Sb2O5 center dot SnO2 (70:25:05) electrocatalyst showed a production of acetic acid and CO2 superior to the others prepared. This result could be associated with the higher performance observed for ethanol oxidation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/18246-0 - Preparation of PD binary and ternary electrocatalysts by borohydride reduction for alcohol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium
• Grantee: Almir Oliveira Neto
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants