Anode Catalysts for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells Utilizing Directly Solar Light Illumination

Shine a light: A PtNiRu/TiO2 anode catalyst for direct ethanol fuel cells shows photocatalytic activity. The peak current density for ethanol oxidation under solar light illumination is 2–3 times greater than that in the absence of solar light. Ethanol is oxidized by light‐generated holes, and the e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ChemSusChem 2009-02, Vol.2 (2), p.171-176
Main Authors: Chu, Daobao, Wang, Shuxi, Zheng, Peng, Wang, Jian, Zha, Longwu, Hou, Yuanyuan, He, Jianguo, Xiao, Ying, Lin, Huashui, Tian, Zhaowu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioelectric Energy Sources
Catalysis
electrochemistry
Electrodes
Ethanol - chemistry
fuel cells
Lighting
Nanoparticles
oxidation
photocatalysis
Photochemical Processes
Sunlight
Titanium
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Summary:Shine a light: A PtNiRu/TiO2 anode catalyst for direct ethanol fuel cells shows photocatalytic activity. The peak current density for ethanol oxidation under solar light illumination is 2–3 times greater than that in the absence of solar light. Ethanol is oxidized by light‐generated holes, and the electrons are collected by the TiO2 support to generate the oxidation current. Novel PtNiRu/TiO2 anode catalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) were prepared from PtNiRu nanoparticles (1:1:1 atomic ratios) and a nanoporous TiO2 film by a sol‐gel and electrodeposition method. The performances of the catalysts for ethanol oxidation were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results indicate a remarkable enhancement of activity for ethanol oxidation under solar light illumination. Under solar light illumination, the generated oxidation peak current density is 24.6 mA cm−2, which is about 2.5 times higher than that observed without solar light (9.9 mA cm−2). The high catalytic activity of the PtNiRu/TiO2 complex catalyst for the electrooxidation of ethanol may be attributed to the modified metal/nanoporous TiO2 film, and the enhanced electrooxidation of ethanol under solar light may be due to the photogeneration of holes in the modified nanoporous TiO2 film. Shine a light: A PtNiRu/TiO2 anode catalyst for direct ethanol fuel cells shows photocatalytic activity. The peak current density for ethanol oxidation under solar light illumination is 2–3 times greater than that in the absence of solar light. Ethanol is oxidized by light‐generated holes, and the electrons are collected by the TiO2 support to generate the oxidation current.
ISSN:1864-5631
1864-564X
DOI:10.1002/cssc.200800158