Catalyst based on Pt, Sn and Ni: Effect of carbon functionalization on ethanol electro-oxidation

Composite nanocatalysts, based on platinum, tin and nickel on carbon, using mono, binary and ternary systems, for the electro-oxidation of ethanol in direct ethanol fuel cells were synthesized in this work. The effect of carbon pre-treatment in HNO₃ solution on the electro-oxidation of ethanol was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that the nanoparticles containing only platinum and the ones containing platinum and tin supported on functionalized carbon presented higher electrocatalytic activities for ethanol oxidation, compared to the ones supported on the non-functionalized carbon. The presence of tin and nickel in the platinum system (binary and ternary systems) promoted the catalytic activity in both ends, the oxidation of ethanol and the oxidation of intermediate carbon species.