CeO2 promoted Au/C catalyst for glycerol electro-oxidation in alkaline medium

• When CeO2 is added to Au/C, onset potential shifts more 190 mV negatively.
• CO remarkably poisons Pt/C and Au– CeO2 has great anti-poisoning effect on CO.
• CO is a promoter for glycerol oxidation on Au–CeO2/C.

Glycerol has a very high value of onset potential on the Au/C, so it is difficult to be electrochemically oxidized on pure Au electrocatalyst. When CeO2 is added to the Au/C, the value of onset potential is more 190 mV shifted negatively and close to that on the E-TEK Pt/C. The results demonstrate that CO remarkably poisons the Pt/C catalyst and CO is a promoter for glycerol oxidation on the Au/C and Au–CeO2/C electrodes. In presence of CO, a current promotion from 7.5 mA cm−2 to 15.0 mA cm−2 on the Au–CeO2/C electrode, then the current slow decays to the same current without CO. The results show that Au–CeO2/C has great anti-poisoning effect on CO and is more stable catalyst than the E-TEK Pt/C for glycerol oxidation in presence of CO.