Tin-oxide-coated single-walled carbon nanotube bundles supporting platinum electrocatalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells

Novel tin-oxide (SnO2)-coated single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) bundles supporting platinum (Pt) electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation were developed for direct ethanol fuel cells. SnO2-coated SWNT (SnO2-SWNT) bundles were synthesized by a simple chemical-solution route. SnO2-SWNT bundles supporting Pt (Pt/SnO2-SWNTs) electrocatalysts and SWNT-supported Pt (Pt/SWNT) electrocatalysts were prepared by an ethylene glycol reduction method. The catalysts were physically characterized using TGA, XRD and TEM and electrochemically evaluated through cyclic voltammetry experiments. The Pt/SnO2-SWNTs showed greatly enhanced electrocatalytic activity for ethanol oxidation in acid medium, compared to the Pt/SWNT. The optimal SnO2 loading of Pt/SnO2-SWNT catalysts with respect to specific catalytic activity for ethanol oxidation was also investigated.