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Sn@Pt and Rh@Pt core–shell nanoparticles synthesis for glycerol oxidation

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Abstract

The development and optimization of electrocatalysts for application in fuel cell systems have been the focus of a variety of studies where core–shell structures have been considered as a promising alternative among the materials studied. We synthesized core–shell nanoparticles of Sn x @Pt y and Rh x @Pt y (Sn@Pt, Sn@Pt2, Sn@Pt3, Rh@Pt, Rh@Pt2, and Rh@Pt3) through a reduction methodology using sodium borohydride. These nanoparticles were electrochemically characterized by cyclic voltammetry and further analyzed by cyclic voltammetry studying their catalytic activity toward glycerol electro-oxidation; chronoamperometry and potentiostatic polarization experiments were also carried out. The physical characterization was carried out by X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The onset potential for glycerol oxidation was shifted in 130 and 120 mV on the Sn@Pt3/C and Rh@Pt3/C catalysts, respectively, compared to commercial Pt/C, while the stationary pseudo-current density, taken at 600 mV, increased 2-fold and 5-fold for these catalysts related to Pt/C, respectively. Thus, the catalysts synthesized by the developed methodology have enhanced catalytic activity toward the electro-oxidation of glycerol, representing an interesting alternative for fuel cell systems.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the National Council of Technological and Scientific Development-CNPq (Grants 303630/2012-4, 402243/2012-9, 474261/2013-1 and 481788/2010-7) and CAPES from Brazil for the scholarships and financial support provided for this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Eletroquímica e Nanotecnologia, Instituto de Tecnologia e Pesquisa/Programa de Pós-graduação em Engenharia de Processos, Universidade Tiradentes, Aracaju, Sergipe, 49.032-490, Brazil

    Marilia M. S. Pupo, Franz E. López-Suárez, Katlin I. B. Eguiluz & Giancarlo R. Salazar-Banda

  2. MCMA Group, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Alicante, Ap. 99, E-03080, Alicante, Spain

    Agustín Bueno-López

  3. Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Campus Itabaiana, Itabaiana, Sergipe, 49.500-000, Brazil

    Cristiano T. Meneses

Authors
  1. Marilia M. S. Pupo
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  2. Franz E. López-Suárez
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  3. Agustín Bueno-López
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  4. Cristiano T. Meneses
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  5. Katlin I. B. Eguiluz
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  6. Giancarlo R. Salazar-Banda
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giancarlo R. Salazar-Banda.

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Pupo, M.M.S., López-Suárez, F.E., Bueno-López, A. et al. Sn@Pt and Rh@Pt core–shell nanoparticles synthesis for glycerol oxidation. J Appl Electrochem 45, 139–150 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-014-0757-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-014-0757-0

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