Effect of Adding a Third Metal to Carbon-Supported PtSn-Based Nanocatalysts for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell in Acidic Medium

Author(s)

Almeida, T. S. ^[1] ; Palma, L. M. ^[1] ; Morais, C. ^[2] ; Kokoh, K. B. ^[2] ; De Andrade, A. R. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Quim, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, BR-14040901 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7285, IC2MP, F-86022 Poitiers - France

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of the Electrochemical Society; v. 160, n. 9, p. F965-F971, 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 12

Abstract

We prepared different PtSnX (X = Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, and W) nanocatalysts supported on Vulcan carbon XC-72 with 40 wt% metal loading by thermal decomposition of polymeric precursors (DPP) and tested their activity in the electrooxidation of ethanol in acidic medium (0.05 mol L-1 H2SO4). We characterized the nanoparticles by EDX and XRD, which revealed 64% atomic ratio of Pt in an fcc structure with crystallite sizes of 4 to 10 nm. Electrochemical tests in the presence of ethanol showed that the addition of Ni to the PtSn/C nanocatalysts enhanced ethanol electrooxidation. The composition Pt66Sn11Ni23/C presented mass activity of 3.5 A g(Pt)(-1) and power density of 25 mW cm(-2) in a direct ethanol fuel cell test. The Ni effect on the PtSn nanocatalyst prompted us to synthesize and test other compositions containing this metal and use them in a direct ethanol fuel cell station. The Pt82Sn09Ni09/C nanocatalyst delivered the best power density value (45 mW cm(-2)). (C) 2013 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/15034-2 - Preparation, characterization and application of trimetalics catalysts PtSnX (x= Ni, PD, RH e W) for direct ethanol oxidation fuel cell
• Grantee: Thiago dos Santos Almeida
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)