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The Promoting Effect of Europium on PtSn/C Catalyst for Ethanol Oxidation
Author(s) -
Wang F.,
Zheng Y.,
Guo Y.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.200900158
Subject(s) - catalysis , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , europium , formic acid , electrochemistry , materials science , inorganic chemistry , metal , chemistry , nuclear chemistry , chemical engineering , electrode , metallurgy , engineering , luminescence , biochemistry , optoelectronics , chromatography
Well‐dispersed PtSnEu/C and PtSn/C catalysts were prepared by the impregnation–reduction method using formic acid as a reductant and characterised by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersion X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The synthesised catalysts with different atomic ratios of Pt/Sn/Eu have the Pt face centered cubic (fcc) structure and their particle sizes are 3–4 nm. The PtSnEu/C catalyst is composed of many Pt (0), SnO 2 , Eu(OH) 3 , a small amount of Pt(II) and partly alloyed PtSn, but no metallic Eu. The electrochemical measurements indicate that in comparison with Pt 3 Sn 1 /C catalyst, the Pt 3 Sn 1 Eu 1 /C catalyst for ethanol oxidation has more negative onset potential, smaller apparent activation energy and lower electrochemical impedance so that it exhibits very high catalytic activity. Its peak current density increases by 135% and 40%, compared with Pt 3 Sn 1 /C and Pt 1 Ru 1 /C (JM) catalysts, respectively. This is because the Eu(OH) 3 formed by adding Eu to PtSn/C catalyst can provide the OH group which is in favour of the removal of adsorbed intermediates and ethanol oxidation.