Electrochemical and fuel cell evaluation of PtAu/C electrocatalysts for ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline media

• Effect of PtAu/C electrocatalysts toward the ethanol electro-oxidation reaction.
• PtAu/C 50:50 showed the best result in electrochemical experiments.
• PtAu/C 70:30 showed a power density 3 times higher than the one obtained using Pt/C.
• Pt and Au in close contact (alloy) contribute to the C–C breaking bond.

PtAu/C electrocatalysts in different atomic ratios and supported on Vulcan XC 72 carbon were tested for ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline media. The electrocatalysts were prepared using borohydride as reducing agent. PtAu/C X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed peaks characteristic of Pt face-centered cubic (fcc) structure and carbon. PtAu/C (70:30) and (50:50) XRD patterns showed a shift to lower values of 2θ when compared to Pt/C, this way suggesting the formation of PtAu alloy. Transmission electron micrographs showed the nanoparticles with particle size between 4 and 6.5 nm for all PtAu/C electrocatalysts. Electrochemical characterization of the PtAu/C materials suggested the PtAu/C (50:50) as the most promising material for ethanol electro-oxidation while experiments in single fuel cell suggested PtAu/C (70:30). The discrepancy in the results obtained can be explained by the electrode construction since PtAu/C (50:50) yields a much thicker electrode than PtAu/C (70:30), due to the Pt load is the same. The best results obtained with PtAu/C electrocatalysts could be explained by the presence of Pt and Au in close contact (alloy) associated to the extend in the platinum lattice parameters since these properties could contribute to the C–C breaking bond.