Development of ternary hexafluoroisopropylidenedianiline/cyclophosphazene/benzidine- disulfonic acid-carbon nanotubes (HFPA/CP/BZD-CNT) composite as a catalyst support for high performance alcohol fuel cell applications

Abstract

This work describes the development of a ternary hexafluoroisopropylidene- dianiline/Cyclophosphazene/benzidinedisulfonic acid-carbon nanotubes (HFPA/CP/BZD-CNT) composite as a novel support for the electrooxidation of ethylene glycol. Pt and Pt-Sn nanoparticles were coated on HFPA/CP/BZD-CNT composite through chemical reduction method. The electrocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The above results confirm that the Pt and Pt-Sn nanoparticles were uniformly deposited on tri-function groups (-NH, -HSO3 and –CF3 groups) of HFPA/CP/BZD in CNT with an average particle size of ∼2.0nm. The obtained Pt/HFPA/CP/BZD-CNT and Pt-Sn/HFPA/CP/BZD-CNT catalysts were utilized as an anode material for electrocatalytic oxidation of ethylene glycol by using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometric analysis in alkaline medium. The ethylene glycol electrooxidation have low onset potential and higher oxidation peak current on Pt/HFPA/CP/BZD-CNT and Pt-Sn/HFPA/CP/BZD-CNT when compared to that of the Pt/CNT and Pt/C catalysts, respectively. Hence, the HFPA/CP/BZD-CNT composite can be used as a potent and promising supporting material for fuel cell applications.