Abstract
Nanosized bimetallic PtMo, PtFe and trimetallic PtMoSn catalysts deposited on highly dispersed carbon black Vulcan XC-72 were synthesized from the cluster complex compounds PtCl(P(C6H5)3)(C3H2N2(CH3)2)Mo(C5H4CH3)(CO)3, Pt(P(C6H5)3)(C3N2H2(CH3)2)Fe(CO)3(COC6H5C2C6H5), and PtCl(P(C6H5)3)(C3N2H2(CH3)2)C5H4CH3Mo(CO)3SnCl2, respectively. Structural characteristics of these catalysts were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), microprobe energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The synthesized catalysts were tested in aqueous 0.5 M H2SO4 in a three-electrode electrochemical cells and in single fuel cells. Electrocatalytic activity of PtMo/C and PtFe/C in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the activity of PtMoSn/C in electrochemical oxidation of ethanol were evaluated. It was shown that specific characteristics of the synthesized catalysts are 1.5–2 times higher than those of a commercial Pt(20%)/C catalyst. The results of experiments indicate that PtFe/C, PtMo/C, and PtMoSn/C catalysts prepared from the corresponding complex precursors can be regarded as promising candidates for application in fuel cells due to their high specific activity.
Highlights
The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is an efficient instrument to convert the chemical energy of fuels into electric power [1]
The results of experiments indicate that PtFe/C, PtMo/C, and PtMoSn/C catalysts prepared from the corresponding complex precursors can be regarded as promising candidates for application in fuel cells due to their high specific activity
The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the sample, shown in Figure 1, curve (1), reveals broad peaks from disordered sp2 carbon at 2θ~26◦ with several peaks, which could be assigned to nanocrystalline Pt, Mo, or their alloys
Summary
The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is an efficient instrument to convert the chemical energy of fuels into electric power [1]. Certain organic substances are considered to be very promising fuels for electrochemical energy conversion These substances can be oxidized electrochemically even at room temperature. Among these fuels, methanol and ethanol have received particular attention due to the fact that they are less polluting to the environment and can be efficiently used in electrochemical energy conversion systems [2,3]. It is still an ongoing task to further improve the performance of the Pt–Sn anode catalysts to enable commercialization of DEFCs. Development of platinum-based anode catalysts with high catalytic activity in alcohol oxidation reactions [12] and of alcohol-tolerant cathode catalysts is an urgent task. Catalytic properties of the synthesized nano alloys are evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), COad stripping voltammetry, chronoamperometry in a conventional electrochemical cell with aqueous electrolytes and in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of a single hydrogen-air PEMFC
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