Development of anode catalysts for a direct ethanol fuel cell

Ethanol electrooxidation was investigated at platinum based electrodes: Pt, Pt—Sn, Pt—Re dispersed on a high surface area carbon powder. The atomic composition of the bimetallic catalyst was varied and the best results were obtained with an atomic ratio Pt:X close to 100:20. The electrocatalytic activity of Pt, PtSn and PtRe was compared using cyclic voltammetry and long-term electrolyses at constant potential. Under voltammetric conditions and in a single direct ethanol fuel cell, PtSn was the most active catalyst. During electrolysis ethanol was oxidized to acetaldehyde (AAL), acetic acid (AA) and carbon dioxide. On PtSn/C and PtRe/C, the ratio AA/AAL was found to be always lower than unity. Otherwise, PtSn electrocatalysts were the most selective towards the production of CO2 compared to Pt and PtRe electrodes.

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