An ethanol electrooxidation study on carbon-supported Pt-Ru nanoparticles for direct ethanol fuel cells

Carbon supported Pt-Ru catalysts were prepared at varying Pt:Ru ratios by polyol method. The crystallite sizes of these catalysts were determined by X-ray diffraction technique. The specific surface areas of these catalysts were also defined by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller technique. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were conducted on these carbon supported Pt-Ru catalysts to investigate the effect of ruthenium on the ethanol electrooxidation kinetics. Results indicated that Pt-Ru (25:1) catalyst showed the best ethanol electrooxidation activity. In conclusion, ethanol electrooxidation mechanism was proposed.