Electrooxidation of methanol on highly active and stable Pt–Sn–Ce/C catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells

Carbon supported Pt–Sn–Ce and Pt–Sn catalysts have been synthesized by a polyol reduction method and compared for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analyses reveal the beneficial effects of the Ce component in Pt–Sn–Ce/C for MOR, despite its low content. Electrochemical techniques such as COad stripping, linear scan, and derivative voltammetries along with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were employed to analyze MOR on Pt–Sn–Ce/C and Pt–Sn/C from a mechanistic point of view. Accelerated durability test (ADT) and single cell test of Pt–Sn–Ce/C in comparison to a commercial PtRu/C catalyst demonstrate the superior performance of Pt–Sn–Ce/C from stability and activity points of view.

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► Pt–Sn–Ce catalysts exhibit superior catalytic activity for methanol oxidation.
► Pt–Sn–Ce catalysts exhibit better stability than the conventional Pt–Ru catalysts.
► The addition of Ce into Pt–Sn enhances the oxidation of CO to CO2.