A Study of the Ethanol Oxidation Kinetics and Product Distribution using a Pt/TOMS Electrocatalyst. Issue 3 (1st March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Black-Araujo, Keenan; Alqdeimat, Diala A.; Esfahani, Reza Alipour Moghadam; Moghaddam, Reza B.; Pickup, Peter G.; Easton, E. Bradley
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 169:Issue 3(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03-01
• Subjects: Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/1945-7111/ac56a5
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : Ethanol is an abundant and sustainable fuel that power direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs). In a DEFC, the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) proceeds at the anode while the oxygen reduction reaction occurs at the cathode. Conventional DEFC electrocatalysts are composed of platinum nanoparticles deposited onto a carbon support (Pt/C). The slow kinetics of the EOR on Pt/C ultimately limits cell performance. Thus, researchers have been looking to develop new catalyst materials that are more stable and active than Pt/C. Here we present a carbon-free catalyst composed of platinum nanoparticles deposited onto a Ti3 O5 Mo0.2 Si0.4 support (Pt/TOMS). The unique metal oxide support is highly conductive and has a strong electronic interaction with the platinum nanoparticles which leads to excellent activity towards the EOR. In comparison to a Pt/C catalyst, Pt/TOMS exhibits earlier onset potentials and a higher current density. Pt/TOMS also shows smaller charge transfer resistance values of 778Ω − 90Ω compared to 818Ω − 206Ω for Pt/C, over a range of temperatures. Activation energies were also lower for Pt/TOMS, ranging from 11.1 J mol −1 to 28.6 J mol −1 compared to 14.5 J mol −1 –33.7 J mol −1 for Pt/C. For these reasons, Pt/TOMS is proposed as a more suitable catalyst material for use in DEFCs.