Sulfated SnO2 modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes - A mixed proton-electron conducting support for Pt catalysts in direct ethanol fuel cells

▶ Sulfated SnO2 modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes as new supports of Pt catalyst (Pt-S-SnO2/MWCNTs) are synthesized. ▶ The Pt-S-SnO2/MWCNTs catalyst is synthesized by a combination of the improved sol-gel and pulse-microwave assisted polyol methods. ▶ The electrochemical performance of Pt-S-SnO2/MWCNTs for the ethanol oxidation reaction is superior to the Pt-SnO2/MWCNTs. ▶ The increased catalytic activity and the utilization of Pt in Pt-S-SnO2/MWCNTs are due to the high proton conductivity of sulfated SnO2.