Promoting effect of Zn in platinum catalyst for effective methanol electrooxidation reaction

Abstract

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are pure electrochemical energy converters that are key components of energy sources for vehicles and for stationary and portable energy suppliers. Searching for a good catalyst for the ethanol oxidation reaction is one of the most significant issues in material science. To increase the economic potential of fuel cell technology, catalyst must be extremely active, stable, and inexpensive. Due to its high catalytic activity, structural and chemical stability, and widespread use in commercial fuel cells, platinum is still the material of choice for making cathodes. Although there is extensive continuing research to reduce the Pt concentration while keeping the high catalytic activity, its high cost remains a barrier to a wider adoption of fuel cell technology.Therefore, the potential for cost reduction lies in the optimization of the catalyst, i.e. obtaining the maximum catalytic efficiency with the lowest possible content of noble metals. The focus of this research will be on novel synthesis techniques for PtSnZn catalysts with better efficiency and durability for the ethanol oxidation reaction. This research demonstrates the potential of studying new PtSnZn catalytic materials as catalysts for the oxidation of ethanol. This study used the microwave assisted polyol technique to create PtZn and PtSnZn nanoparticles supported on high surface area carbon Vulcan XC-72R material. By using cyclic voltammetry, electro-oxidation of adsorbed CO, and the chronoamperometric method, the electrochemical behavior of synthesized catalysts was examined. X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy analysis and thermogravimetric analysis were applied to obtain the physicochemical properties of the catalyst. The advantages of microwave synthesis and carefully balanced metal alloying in the PtSnZn/C catalysts led to a high catalytic activity of the synthesized catalyst in the ethanol oxidation reaction compared to the Pt/C catalyst.