Research Article
Open Access
Investigation of Ethanol Electro-Oxidation on a Pt–Sn–Co/C Catalyst for a Membraneless Ethanol Fuel Cell
S.P.R. Kalaikathir1 and S. Begila David2*
1 Department of Chemistry, Womens’ Christian College, Nagercoil – 629 001, India.
2 PG and Research Centre in Chemistry, Scott Christian College (Autonomous), Nagercoil – 629 003, India.
2 PG and Research Centre in Chemistry, Scott Christian College (Autonomous), Nagercoil – 629 003, India.
S. Begila David et al /Int.J. TechnoChem Res. 2017,3(2),pp 252-263.
Abstract
In the present work, carbon-supported, well-dispersed Pt100, Pt50Sn50, Pt50Co50,Pt60Sn30Co10,
Pt60Sn20Co20, andPt60Sn10Co30 electrocatalysts were synthesized by Pechini method. The crystallite size,
lattice parameter, composition, and particle size of metals in the electrocatalysts were determined by
XRD, EDX and TEM techniques, respectively. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that catalysts have a Pt
face-centred cubic (fcc) structure with crystallite size of 3–4.5 nm. The EDX results of the binary Pt–
Sn/C and Pt–Co/C and the ternary Pt–Sn–Co/C catalysts were extremely close to the nominal values,
indicating that the metals were loaded onto the carbon support without any obvious loss. The size of
catalyst nanoparticles was observed via TEM and showed an average diameter of 3.1 nm. The
electrocatalytic activities of Pt100/C, Pt50Sn50/C, Pt50Co50/C, Pt60Sn30Co10/C, Pt60Sn20Co20/C,
andPt60Sn10Co30/Ccatalysts were investigated in terms of CV and CA. The electrochemical results
showed that the catalytic activity in 1.0 M EtOH + 0.5 M H2SO4 solution at 0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl exhibits
the following sequence: Pt60Sn30Co10/C > Pt60Sn20Co20/C > Pt60Sn10Co30/C> Pt50Sn50/C>Pt/C >
Pt50Co50/C. This clearly indicates thatthe performance of the ternary Pt60Sn30Co10/C electrocatalysts for
ethanol electro-oxidation is better than that of the binary Pt50Sn50/C and Pt50Co50/C electrocatalysts due to
the promoting function of Co. In addition, its CO-tolerance is better than that of the Pt50Ru50/C and
Pt50Co50/C catalysts. The high activity of Pt60Ru30Co10/C electrocatalyst was also observed on
membraneless ethanol fuel cell, which was consistent with the half-cell measurements.
Pt60Sn20Co20, andPt60Sn10Co30 electrocatalysts were synthesized by Pechini method. The crystallite size,
lattice parameter, composition, and particle size of metals in the electrocatalysts were determined by
XRD, EDX and TEM techniques, respectively. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that catalysts have a Pt
face-centred cubic (fcc) structure with crystallite size of 3–4.5 nm. The EDX results of the binary Pt–
Sn/C and Pt–Co/C and the ternary Pt–Sn–Co/C catalysts were extremely close to the nominal values,
indicating that the metals were loaded onto the carbon support without any obvious loss. The size of
catalyst nanoparticles was observed via TEM and showed an average diameter of 3.1 nm. The
electrocatalytic activities of Pt100/C, Pt50Sn50/C, Pt50Co50/C, Pt60Sn30Co10/C, Pt60Sn20Co20/C,
andPt60Sn10Co30/Ccatalysts were investigated in terms of CV and CA. The electrochemical results
showed that the catalytic activity in 1.0 M EtOH + 0.5 M H2SO4 solution at 0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl exhibits
the following sequence: Pt60Sn30Co10/C > Pt60Sn20Co20/C > Pt60Sn10Co30/C> Pt50Sn50/C>Pt/C >
Pt50Co50/C. This clearly indicates thatthe performance of the ternary Pt60Sn30Co10/C electrocatalysts for
ethanol electro-oxidation is better than that of the binary Pt50Sn50/C and Pt50Co50/C electrocatalysts due to
the promoting function of Co. In addition, its CO-tolerance is better than that of the Pt50Ru50/C and
Pt50Co50/C catalysts. The high activity of Pt60Ru30Co10/C electrocatalyst was also observed on
membraneless ethanol fuel cell, which was consistent with the half-cell measurements.
Keywords
Membraneless ethanol fuel cell, Platinum, Cobalt, Tin, and Electrocatalysts.
Full text content is not available right now.