Synthesis and characterization of Pt-MoO _x-TiO₂ electrodes for direct ethanol fuel cells

Abstract

To enhance the CO-tolerance performance of anode catalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells, carbon nanotubes were modified by titanium dioxide (donated as CNTs@TiO₂) and subsequently served as the support for the preparation of Pt/CNTs@TiO₂ and Pt-Mo/CNTs@TiO₂ electrocatalysts via a UV-photoreduction method. The physicochemical characterizations of the catalysts were carried out by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed probe ammonia molecules. The electrocatalytic properties of the catalysts for methanol oxidation were investigated by the cyclic voltammetry technique. The results show that Pt-Mo/CNTs@TiO₂ electrode exhibits the highest performance in all the electrodes. It is explained that, the structure, the oxidation states, and the acid-base properties of the catalysts are influenced due to the strong interaction between Ti and Mo species by adding TiO₂ and MoO _x to the Pt-based catalysts.

Keywords

direct ethanol fuel cell / acidity / metal oxides / electrocatalysts / methanol oxidation / electrochemical properties / carbon naotubes

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