Improved Pt/CeO2 electrocatalysts for ethanol electro-oxidation

Abstract

A simple and low-cost approach for the preparation of wide-gap (Eg = 3.43 eV), fine cerium dioxide crystals (CeO2, d = 8.1 nm), was developed in order to support Pt nanoparticles as electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation. Cerium oxide powders were prepared by precipitation from cerium chloride solution in ammonia medium and the influence of calcination temperature was evaluated. Platinum nanoparticles were incorporated by a wet chemical reduction of chloroplatinic acid with sodium borohydrate. Compared to a state-of-the-art Pt/C, the nanocomposite exhibited a much higher mass activity (2.5×) and significant anti-poisoning ability. The promotional effect of the CeO2 nanocrystals was discovered to be affected by heat treatment conditions. Compared to oven-dried samples, calcination allows to (i) an enhanced metal–support interaction between CeO2 and Pt and (ii) an enhancement of electron transportation to catalyst owing to the shrinkage of CeO2 bandgap, thereby promoting the oxidation of the strongly adsorbed CxHy. Therefore, the Pt/CeO2 nanocomposite appears to be a promising electrocatalyst for advanced energy conversion.