Abstract
With the objective of lowering the potential oxidation of ethanol at PtSn nanocatalyst, we present the synthesis of free-standing catalyst layer comprising a current collector/carbon nanotubes (catalyst support)/SnO2/Pt75Sn25 (catalyst) nanostructured layers, each layer constructed upon the one below it. The CNTs are grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), whereas SnO2 and Pt75Sn25 are synthesized by pulsed laser deposition and cross-beam laser deposition, respectively. FESEM revealed that Pt75Sn25 nanoparticles assemble into cauliflower-like arrangement. TEM and HR-TEM showed that the Pt75Sn25 layer thickness is of ca. 25nm with a particle mean diameter of 4.3nm. It was found that addition of SnO2 to Pt75Sn25 promotes significantly the oxidation of ethanol at Pt75Sn25 nanoparticles relative to a carbon nanotubes support. Indeed, the electrooxidation of ethanol at CNTs/SnO2/Pt75Sn25 electrode starts at about 100mV negative with respect to that at CNT/Pt75Sn25. This decreased overpotential required to oxidize ethanol is very significant and has profound implications to developing high performing anodes for direct ethanol fuel cells technology.
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