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Enhanced performance of direct ethanol fuel cell using Pt/MWCNTs as anodic electrocatalyst

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Abstract

Platinum nanoparticles with a size distribution ranging from 3 to 6 nm were synthesized at room temperature by chemical reduction of platinum chloride, using NaBH4 as the reduction reagent and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) as the stabilizer. The Pt colloidal nanoparticles obtained were deposited onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) synthesized by the chemical vapor deposition method. Pt/MWCNTs prepared with a metal content of 20 wt% was evaluated as the anode electrocatalyst in a 9 cm2 direct ethanol fuel cell using PtRu/C as the cathode material. Both electrodes had a metal loading of 1 mgPt cm−2. Polarization curves showed higher electroactivity for Pt/MWCNTs than commercial material (Pt/C).

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Daniel Moreno for the electrochemical characterizations and acknowledge the financial support received from CONACYT-213373 and TNM under Grant No. 5201.14-P. The authors are also grateful for the support from the Laboratorio Nacional de Nanotecnología (CIMAV). B. Escobar wishes to thank the CONACYT-Cátedras program.

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Correspondence to Y. Verde-Gómez.

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Ordóñez, L.C., Escobar, B., Barbosa, R. et al. Enhanced performance of direct ethanol fuel cell using Pt/MWCNTs as anodic electrocatalyst. J Appl Electrochem 45, 1205–1210 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-015-0854-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-015-0854-8

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