Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. ›› 2013, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (05): 959-965.doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB201303042

• ELECTROCHEMISTRY AND NEW ENERGY • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Preparation and Characterization of Pt-Ir-SnO2/C Anode Catalyst for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell

SUN Hong-Yan, ZHAO Lian-Hua, Yu Feng-Chun   

  1. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
  • Received:2012-11-23 Revised:2013-03-04 Published:2013-04-24
  • Supported by:

    The project was supported by the Science and Technology Project of Jilin Province, China (20120741).

Abstract:

Pt/C, Pt-Ir/C, Pt-SnO2/C, and Pt-Ir-SnO2/C anode electrocatalysts were prepared by an improved Bo? nnemann method. The crystal structure, surface morphology, particle size, and surface electronic structure were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XRD and TEM revealed that Pt nanoparticles had a face-centered cubic structure, and that dispersions were relatively homogeneous with particle sizes of 2-4 nm. Electrocatalytic activities were characterized using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and amperometric (j-t) curve techniques. Catalytic performance improved with increasing temperature, and catalytic activity of Pt-Ir-SnO2/C was optimal under these conditions. Arrhenius formula calculations showed that the synergy between Ir and Sn reduced the activation energy of Pt-Ir-SnO2/C catalysts for the oxidation of ethanol.

Key words: Platinum, Iridium, Stannic oxide, Ethanol electrooxidation, Activation energy, Direct ethanol fuel cell