Platinum-Tin Nanowires Anchored on a Nitrogen-Doped Nanotube Composite Embedded with Iron/Iron Carbide Particles as an Ethanol Oxidation Electrocatalyst

One-pot synthesis of Fe/Fe3C particles embeded within nitrogen-doped nanotube composite (Fe-C) is achieved by pyrolyzing a mixture of melamine and iron (III) chloride. PtSn alloys with atomic ratios of 3: 1, 1: 1, and 1: 3 supported on Fe-C are formed using an ethylene glycol reduction method. PtSn alloys exhibit a wire-like morphology when supported on Fe-C (PtSn/Fe-C) as opposed to spherical morphology of PtSn nanoparticles formed on commercial carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The length of the PtSn nanowires is inversely proportional to the Pt:Sn atomic ratio. All three PtSn/Fe-C catalysts have higher ethanol oxidation activity and durability than the PtSn/CNT catalyst, and the highest activity is produced by a 1: 1 Pt:Sn ratio. We conclude that Fe/Fe3C particles embedded within the N-doped carbon composite offers a promising PtSn suppport for direct ethanol fuel cells. (C) 2014 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.