Chemically designed CeO2 nanoboxes boost the catalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles toward electro-oxidation of formic acid. Issue 23 (7th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ramani, Swetha; Sarkar, Sumanta; Vemuri, Vamseedhara; Peter, Sebastian C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 5:Issue 23(2017)
• Page Start: 11572
• Page End: 11576
• Publication Date: 2016-11-07
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ta06339j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : CeO2 nanoboxes designed by controlling various chemical parameters enhance both the efficiency and stability of Pt nanoparticles towards the electrochemical oxidation of formic acid. Abstract : A comprehensive study was carried out on platinum nanoparticle decorated CeO2 nanoboxes as an efficient catalyst towards electro-oxidation of formic acid. We herein report the effect of different parameters such as the size and shape of CeO2 nanoboxes, thickness of the CeO2 shell, mode of attachment of Pt nanoparticles on the CeO2 surface and screening of Pt loading on the electro-oxidation of formic acid. A facile low temperature aqueous phase method was utilized for the synthesis of CeO2 nanoboxes using Cu2 O nanocubes as a soft sacrificial template. Owing to the exposed active surface area and optimum shell thickness, the smallest CeO2 boxes loaded with Pt (50 nm) showed excellent activity for formic acid oxidation with a current density of 4.52 mA cm −2 . The highly porous hollow nanoboxes act as a bifunctional support for Pt nanoparticles. The catalyst also exhibited significant activity in the oxidation of other small molecules such as ethanol and methanol.