Enhanced electro-oxidation of ethanol using Pt-CeO2 electrocatalyst prepared by electrodeposition technique

Pt-CeO2 electrocatalysts were prepared on the multi-walled carbon nanotube (Pt-CeO2-MWCNT) by an electrochemical deposition process. First, CeO2 is electrodeposited on treated MWCNTs in the optimum deposition conditions. Then, the Pt nanoparticle is electrochemically deposited on CeO2/MWCNT electrode by applying a constant potential via chronoamperometry method. The electrocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The electro-oxidation of ethanol (EOR) was studied at room temperature by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry (CA) measurements. The onset potential of Pt-CeO2-MWCNT shifts to negative compared to the onset potential of Pt-MWCNT. The results indicating CeO2 could significantly enhance the stability and CO poisoning tolerance of the Pt for alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFC).