Enhanced electro-oxidation of ethanol using Pt-CeO2 electrocatalyst prepared by electrodeposition technique

Pt-CeO2 electrocatalysts were prepared on the multi-walled carbon nanotube (Pt-CeO2 -MWCNT) by an electrochemical deposition process. First, CeO2 is electrodeposited on treated MWCNTs in the optimum deposition conditions. Then, the Pt nanoparticle is electrochemically deposited on CeO2/MWCNT electrode by applying a constant potential via chronoamperometry method. The electrocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The electro-oxidation of ethanol (EOR) was studied at room temperature by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry (CA) measurements. The onset potential of Pt-CeO2-MWCNT shifts to negative compared to the onset potential of Pt-MWCNT. The results indicating CeO2 could significantly enhance the stability and CO poisoning tolerance of the Pt for alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFC). (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.