Preparation and Characterization of PtSn/C-Rare Earth Using an Alcohol Reduction Process for Ethanol Electro-Oxidation

Abstract

PtSn/C, PtSn/Er2O3-C, PtSn/CeO2–C, PtSn/La2O3–C and PtSn/Nd2O3–C electrocatalysts were prepared by an alcohol-reduction process using H2PtCl6.6H2O and SnCl2.2H2O as metal sources, ethylene glycol as solvent and reducing agent, 85% Vulcan XC72-15% rare earth (Er2O3, CeO2, La2O3 and Nd2O3) as support. The platinum and tin metal loadings were always kept at 20 wt%. The electrocatalysts were characterized by EDX, XRD and TEM, while that the performance for ethanol oxidation was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and cronoamperommetry at room temperature. The PtSn/Er2O3–C electrocatalyst showed an increase of performance for ethanol oxidation in relation to PtSn/C electrocatalyst. The final current values after holding the cell potential at 0.5 V versus RHE for 30 min were the following: PtSn/Er2O3–C > PtSn/CeO2–C > PtSn/Nd2O3–C > PtSn/La2O3–C > PtSn/C. In the tests at 100oC on a single cell of a direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC), the PtSn/Er2O3–C electrocatalyst also showed the best performance in relation to the others electrocatalysts.