Study on Pt(Sn)/TiO2-C as Anodic Catalysts for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell

This research concentrated on the use of a modified Pt/C anodic catalyst with titania (TiO2) and tin (Sn) to enhance the utilization and efficiency of a direct ethanol fuel cell. The TiO2-doped active carbon support (TiO2-C) was prepared by the impregnation method. Then, using platinum chloride (PtCl4) and tin (II) chloride dihydrate (SnCl2 center dot 2H(2)O) as precursors, a Pt(Sn)/TiO2-C anodic catalyst was fabricated by the formic acid reduction method. Further, a series of Pt(Sn)/TiO2-C anodic catalysts were coated on carbon paper as working electrodes. Performance evaluations were executed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry for the ethanol electro-oxidation, and CO stripping voltammetry was performed in an acid solution at room temperature. Characterization of the series Pt(Sn)/TiO2-C catalysts displayed that all catalysts revealed uniform dispersion of platinum with a diameter around 3 - 6 nm and a high electrochemically active surface area. Apparently, the doping of TiO2 and Sn could disperse the active species, and lower the potential of the ethanol electro-oxidation to improve the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). In addition, the inclusion of TiO2 and Sn could promote CO stripping by the surface active OHad sites and through the formation of a PtSn2 alloy at a lower oxidizing potential.