Co-catalytic effect of nickel in the electro-oxidation of ethanol on binary Pt-Sn electrocatalysts

PtSn/C electrocatalysts with Pt:Sn molar ratios of 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75 and PtSnNi/C electrocatalyst with a Pt:Sn:Ni molar ratio of 50:40:10 were prepared by the alcohol-reduction process using ethylene glycol as solvent and reducing agent. The electrocatalysts were characterized by EDX, XRD and cyclic voltammetry. The electro-oxidation of ethanol was studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry using the thin porous coating technique. PtSnNi/C electrocatalyst showed a superior performance compared to PtSn/C electrocatalysts in the potential range of interest for direct ethanol fuel cell.