Enhancing methanol electro-oxidation by double oxide incorporation with platinum on carbon nanotubes
Abstract
Electro-oxidation of methanol was investigated on platinum catalyst supported on a double oxide nanocomposite support of tin oxide and carbon-doped titanium dioxide. The Pt-SnO2-C-/CNTs electro catalyst demonstrated about 20% and 44% percent higher forward peak current density than Pt-SnO2/CNTs and E-TEK, respectively. The kinetics of formation of the oxygenated species (-OH) groups was dramatically enhanced upon doped titanium dioxide incorporation. This leads to a much lower onset potential of adsorbed CO oxidation. Doping by carbon in the titanium dioxide makes the oxide support electrically conductive. Shifting in Pt oxidation state was noted, which refers to the influence of the metal oxide incorporation with platinum on the CNTs. The purpose of the coating is to avoid corrosion at high potentials and enhance the durability of the catalyst in an acidic medium. Therefore, the oxide coating was the key factor for the enhanced stability of the Pt catalyst and for the increase of current density during methanol electro-oxidation.
Degree
M.S.
Thesis Department
Rights
OpenAccess.
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