Abstract
The review article discusses the current status and recent findings of our investigations on the synthesis and characterization of carbon-supported PtRuMo electrocatalysts for direct alcohol fuel cells. In particular, the effect of the carbon support and the composition on the structure, stability and the activity of the PtRuMo nanoparticles for the electrooxidation of CO, methanol and ethanol have been studied. Different physicochemical techniques have been employed for the analysis of the catalysts structures: X-ray analytical methods (XRD, XPS, TXRF), thermogravimetry (TGA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), as well as a number of electrochemical techniques like CO adsorption studies, current-time curves and cyclic voltammetry measurements. Furthermore, spectroscopic methods adapted to the electrochemical systems for in situ studies, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS) and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS), have been used to evaluate the oxidation process of CO, methanol and ethanol over the carbon-supported PtRuMo electrocatalysts.
Highlights
Fuel cells fed with methanol (CH3OH) or ethanol (C2H5OH), in the form of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) and using a proton-exchange membrane, are being considered as alternatives to hydrogen [1,2]
Spectroscopic methods adapted to the electrochemical systems for in situ studies, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS) and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS), have been used to evaluate the oxidation processes of CO, methanol and ethanol over the carbon-supported PtRuMo electrocatalysts
From the comparison of the electrochemical response combined with an ex situ X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study of the surface species of PtRuMo, it has been confirmed that Mo is present in the oxidized form in the entire potential window, changing form Mo3+ to Mo6+ as the potential increases [41,49,50]
Summary
Fuel cells fed with methanol (CH3OH) or ethanol (C2H5OH), in the form of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) and using a proton-exchange membrane, are being considered as alternatives to hydrogen [1,2]. Based on the present development status of the electrocatalysts for methanol and ethanol oxidation, it is recognized that carbon-supported Pt-based catalysts are the most active anode materials for direct alcohol fuel cells. PtSn [11,12,13] or PtRu [14,15,16] display enhanced electrocatalytic performance for ethanol electrooxidation with respect to monometallic Pt catalyst In both reactions, the use of oxophilic atoms can aid in the oxidation of CO from the surface as they enhance the activation of water to form surface hydroxides, which can more readily oxidize CO and CHx intermediates that form via bifunctional pathways [17,18]. Spectroscopic methods adapted to the electrochemical systems for in situ studies, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS) and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS), have been used to evaluate the oxidation processes of CO, methanol and ethanol over the carbon-supported PtRuMo electrocatalysts
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