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High Electrocatalytic Activity of Pt/C Catalyst Promoted by TT‐Nb 2 O 5 Nanoparticles under Acidic Conditions
Author(s) -
Umeshbabu Ediga,
Ranga Rao Gangavarapu
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemistryselect
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2365-6549
DOI - 10.1002/slct.201700256
Subject(s) - catalysis , nanoparticle , methanol , orthorhombic crystal system , niobium pentoxide , materials science , inorganic chemistry , electrochemistry , niobium , carbon monoxide , particle size , crystallite , pentoxide , chemistry , vanadium , nanotechnology , crystallography , crystal structure , electrode , metallurgy , organic chemistry
Abstract Methanol electrooxidation activity of pseudohexagonal niobium pentoxide (TT‐Nb 2 O 5 ) nanoparticles promoted Pt/C catalyst under acidic conditions is reported. The TT‐Nb 2 O 5 nanoparticles (nano‐TT‐Nb 2 O 5 ) with crystallite size ∼22 nm were prepared by sol‐gel approach and incorporated into Vulcan carbon by a solid state intermittent microwave heating method. Subsequently, Pt nanoparticles were deposited over the TT‐Nb 2 O 5 /C composite by conventional polyol reflux method. It is found that the TT‐Nb 2 O 5 promotes Pt particle dispersion and the average size of Pt nanoparticles thus obtained is about 3.2 nm. The electrochemical methanol oxidation studies were performed on Pt/nano‐TT‐Nb 2 O 5 /C catalyst and compared with bulk‐orthorhombic niobium pentoxide (bulk‐T‐Nb 2 O 5 ) promoted Pt/C as well as bare Pt/C catalysts. The electrooxidation results show that the nano‐TT‐Nb 2 O 5 promoted Pt/C catalyst exhibits lower onset potential and higher current density compared to Pt/bulk‐T‐Nb 2 O 5 /C and Pt/C catalysts. Also, it has shown appreciable catalytic stability and improved antipoisoning ability during the methanol oxidation. The origin of higher electrocatalytic activity of Pt/nano‐TT‐Nb 2 O 5 /C catalyst is attributed to the large number of triple‐phase interface active centers on nano‐TT‐Nb 2 O 5 , which provide abundant hydroxide (OH – ) species for effective oxidation of intermediates such as adsorbed carbon monoxide (CO ads ) at lower potentials.