Abstract
The development of highly efficient and durable anode materials for ethanol electro-oxidation remains a challenge. Herein, we report the synthesis of Pt 1−x−y Ir x Ni y nanocrystals via one-step procedure by ultrasonic-assisted co-reduction of the metal precursors using ascorbic acid as a mild reducing agent and pluronic F127 as a structure directing agent. The catalytic performance of this ternary catalyst towards electrochemical oxidation of ethanol was examined and compared to its mono and binary Pt counterparts (Pt, Pt 1−x Ir x , and Pt 1−y Ni y ) that are synthesized by the same method. TEM analysis showed a porous nanodendritic structure for the synthesized ternary electrocatalyst with an average size of 20 ± 1 nm. The electrochemical measurements revealed an electrochemically active surface area, ECSA, of 73 m 2 g −1 . The as-synthesized ternary electrocatalyst showed an improved catalytic activity towards ethanol oxidation in 1 M KOH with a measured mass activity of 3.8 A mg −1 which is 1.7, 2.0, and 3.2 times higher than that of Pt 1−x Ir x , Pt 1−y Ni y , and Pt, respectively. Additionally, the Pt 1−x−y Ir x Ni y nanocrystals expressed high poisoning tolerance (j f /j b = 4.5) and high durability compared to its mono and binary counterparts.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 61-67 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Electrochemistry Communications |
Volume | 101 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2019 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2019
Keywords
- Electro-oxidation
- Ethanol
- Iridium
- Nickel
- Platinum alloy
- Porous nanodendrites