Mixed-reactant ethanol fuel cell using an electrochemically deposited Ag@Pt tolerant cathode. (28th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abrego-Martínez, J.C.; Wang, Youling; Mendoza-Huizar, L.H.; Ledesma-Garcia, J.; Cuevas-Muñiz, F.M.; Mohamedi, M.; Arriaga, L.G.
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 41:Number 48(2016)
• Page Start: 23417
• Page End: 23424
• Publication Date: 2016-12-28
• Subjects: Core–shell -- Oxygen reduction -- Ethanol-tolerant cathode -- Fuel cell; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.09.032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: In the present work, we report an ethanol tolerant cathode catalyst developed through a two-stages electrodeposition of Pt and Ag nanoparticles on a glassy carbon electrode using chronoamperometric and voltammetric techniques. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical techniques. According to the SEM study, the synthetized particles have semi-spherical shape and their average diameter is 200 nm. The catalyst showed a layer onto layer or a core–shell-like architecture, where the silver layer that was built onto the platinum surface covers the nanoparticles. This Ag@Pt catalyst was successfully evaluated for the oxygen reduction reaction, involving a four-electron transfer mechanism. Additionally, it exhibited high tolerance to ethanol oxidation reaction. The onset potential of the ORR was 0.81 V in presence of 5 M EtOH. The catalyst was further tested as cathode in an alkaline mixed-reactant fuel cell using 1 M EtOH + O2, yielding more than 400 mV and 20 μW cm −2 . Highlights: Free-standing Ag@Pt core–shell nanostructure was obtained by chronoamperometry. The oxygen reduction is little affected by the presence of Ag shell. Ag shell decreases the activity of Pt nanoparticles toward alcohol oxidation. Ag@Pt showed tolerance for the ORR up to 5 M of ethanol and methanol.