Authors

J. M. Anderson; M. D. McInnis; A. Malhotra;L. Zhai

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Mater. Express

Keywords

Carbon Nanotube; Ceria; Platinum; Ruthenium; Fuel Cell; Electrooxidation; Alcohol; FUEL-CELLS; ELECTRODES; GOLD; TEMPERATURE; OXIDATION; CATALYSTS; NANOCERIA; COPPER; PD; Nanoscience & Nanotechnology; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

Abstract

The electrochemical oxidation of methanol and ethanol in acidic media was studied using electrodes composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) decorated with Pt, Ru and ceria nanoparticles. Polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) was used to disperse the MWCNTs in water and provide nucleation sites for the growth of catalyst nanoparticles. Composite electrodes were characterized for structural and electrochemical properties and all electrodes modified with Ru displayed greater catalytic ability for alcohol oxidation than those without Ru. In addition, the inclusion of ceria seemed to increase the catalytic ability in every sample suggesting a synergistic effect between Pt, Ru and ceria for the oxidation of methanol and ethanol. The catalytic effect of Pt and Ru concentration was studied by holding Ru concentrations constant and increasing the concentration of Pt. The same concentration of ceria was used for all modified electrodes. The results of this study show that the electrode prepared from 3:1 Pt:Ru solutions with ceria showed the highest peak current density for methanol oxidation (at 0.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl/Cl-) which was nearly 20 times greater than that for an unmodified Pt electrode. Similar results were seen for ethanol oxidation on the same electrode which resulted in peak current densities greater than 20 times those for the unmodified Pt electrode at 0.8 V versus Ag/AgCl/Cl-.

Journal Title

Materials Express

Volume

3

Issue/Number

1

Publication Date

1-1-2013

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

11

Last Page

20

WOS Identifier

WOS:000316369000002

ISSN

2158-5849

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