Pt electrodeposited on CeZrO4/MCNT as a new alternative catalyst for enhancement of ethanol oxidation

Electrocatalytic preparation of Pt-based nanocomposites has been investigated for improvement of direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs). In this study, new alternative catalysts of Pt-decorated cerium zirconium oxide-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Pt/CeZrO4/MCNT) were successively prepared to improve the activity of the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). The prepared CeZrO4 with a face-centered cubic (fcc) structure compatibly dispersed onto MCNT provides abundant active Pt sites for highly active catalysts. The fcc-structured Pt was also satisfactorily decorated onto CeZrO4/MCNT, resulting in highly active Pt. The Ce4+/Ce3+ redox property can promote oxygen vacancies to improve the electrochemical activity for oxidation of carbonaceous species. An increase in roughness and a stabilized catalyst structure can also be produced by inserting Zr4+ into the ceria metal oxide. The prepared Pt/20%CeZrO4/MCNT catalysts present excellent electrochemical active surface area, mass activity, CO tolerance and high electron kinetic transfer with low resistance and high stability over commercial PtRu/C toward EOR. This promising catalyst material could be introduced to enhance the anodic oxidation reaction in DEFCs. (C) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, Pt-decorated cerium zirconium oxide-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Pt/CeZrO4/MCNT) were prepared as alternative catalysts to improve the activity of the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) in direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs). The prepared catalysts showed excellent electrochemical performance and stability, making them promising materials for enhancing the anodic oxidation reaction in DEFCs.