The Effect of Ternary Catalyst Atomic Ratios (PtRuSn/C and PtRuNi/C) on Ethanol Electrooxidation for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell

Abstract:

The effect of the different metal atomic ratios deposited on Vulcan XC-72R on ethanol electrooxidation reaction were investigated by producing of the ternary catalysts (PtRuSn/C and PtRuNi/C) in various atomic ratios (75:20:5, 75:15:10, 75:10:15, 75:5:20). All catalysts were prepared via polyol process. The nominal atomic ratios of the metals on the support were confirmed by EDX-SEM. The cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the electrocatalytic activity of the catalysts. It was found that PtRuSn/C (75:10:15) showed the highest maximum current density of 3.25 mA/cm² among all Sn containing catalysts. However, PtRuNi/C (75:5:20) also exhibited the high maximum current density of 2.66 mA/cm² which was the maximum current density for Ni containing catalysts. Moreover, PtRuNi/C (75:5:20) exhibited the best activity and stability for ethanol electrooxidation reaction as showed in chronoamperometry tests. The current density at 3000 s was 0.54 mA/cm². The size of the catalysts was about 1.9-3 nm measured by TEM. The catalyst also presented smaller particle size and better catalyst dispersion among all ternary catalysts. The addition of Sn facilitated the C-C bond breaking in molecule of ethanol while the addition of Ni facilitated better stability.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 659)
• Pages: 247-251
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.659.247
• Online since: August 2015
• Authors: Napha Sudachom, Chompunuch Warakulwit, Paweena Prapainainar*
• Keywords: Atomic Ratios, Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell, Electrooxidation Reaction, Ternary Catalyst

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