Zn-enriched PtZn nanoparticle electrocatalysts synthesized by solution combustion for ethanol oxidation reaction in an a
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Research Letter
Zn-enriched PtZn nanoparticle electrocatalysts synthesized by solution combustion for ethanol oxidation reaction in an alkaline medium Md. Abdul Matin, Anand Kumar, Mohammed Ali H. Saleh Saad, and Mohammed J. Al-Marri, Department of Chemical Engineering, Qatar University, P. O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar Sergey Suslov, Qatar Environmental and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), HBKU, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar Address all correspondence to Anand Kumar at [email protected] (Received 11 February 2018; accepted 2 April 2018)
Abstract This work focuses on the syntheses of Zn-enriched PtZn nanoparticle electrocatalysts by solution combustion for ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). Analytical techniques of x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy, TEM/scanning TEM-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are used for the characterization of electrocatalysts. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry are applied for the electrocatalysis of C2H5OH and stability test in an alkaline medium, respectively. Electrochemical data show that PtZn/C has improved electrocatalytic activity by ∼2.3 times compared with commercial Pt/C, in addition to having earlier onset potential and better stability for EOR. The variation of fuel amount in the synthesis has affected crystallite sizes, electronic, and electrochemical properties in electrocatalysts.
Introduction To reduce the dependency on natural reserved fossil fuels use and the consequences of their practices, finding alternatives to save our planet is one of the most challenging and exigent tasks to the scientific community working in the energy sciences.[1–3] Fuel cells (FCs) have become one of the important technologies as an alternative to fossil fuels on account of producing clean energy with least harmful emissions to the environment and keep environment friendly for all organisms with the minimization of global warming.[3–5] Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) among different types of FCs are progressively studied due to high current density and conversion efficiency at low temperature, easy availability and fast refilling, low-cost and facile storage, and non-toxicity.[5–8] DEFCs involve oxidation reaction at anode side of FCs requiring suitable catalysts to perform the oxidation of ethanol by complete cleavage of C–C bond in C2H5OH.[7] So far, platinum (Pt) is the best choice among catalysts for both sides of FCs, but main challenges with Pt, such as sluggish kinetics, readily poisoned at anode, high cost, and shortage, make an obstacle to the wider viability.[6,8,9] To overcome the existing problems associated with Pt, the studies have suggested the formation of alloys, core–shells, phase-segregated, and other nanostructured materials with transition metals and Pt that show an enhancement in catalytic development.[1,4,8,10–14] Many researchers have reported on bi-phasic catalysts with PtZn (Zn-rich/lean-content) and Pt-other transition metals, which are called as intermetallic alloy nanopa
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