A Pt-Bi bimetallic nanoparticle catalyst for direct electro-oxidation of formic acid in fuel cells

doi:10.1007/s11783-012-0475-y

Front Envir Sci Eng

2013, Vol. 7

Issue (3) : 388-394 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-012-0475-y

RESEARCH ARTICLE

A Pt-Bi bimetallic nanoparticle catalyst for direct electro-oxidation of formic acid in fuel cells

Shu-Hong LI¹, Yue ZHAO¹, Jian CHU¹, Wen-Wei LI¹, Han-Qing YU¹(

), Gang LIU², Yang-Chao TIAN²

1. Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; 2. National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China

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Abstract

Direct formic acid fuel cells are a promising portable power-generating device, and the development of efficient anodic catalysts is essential for such a fuel cell. In this work Pt-Bi nanoparticles supported on micro-fabricated gold wire array substrate were synthesized using an electrochemical deposition method for formic acid oxidation in fuel cells. The surface morphology and element components of the Pt-Bi/Au nanoparticles were characterized, and the catalytic activities of the three Pt-Bi/Au nanoparticle electrodes with different Pt/Bi ratios for formic acid oxidation were evaluated. It was found that Pt₄Bi₉₆/Au had a much higher catalytic activity than Pt₁₁Bi₈₉/Au and Pt₁₃Bi₈₇/Au, and Pt₄Bi₉₆/Au exhibited a current density of 2.7 mA·cm^-2, which was 27-times greater than that of Pt/Au. The electro-catalytic activity of the Pt-Bi/Au electrode for formic acid oxidation increased with the increasing Bi content, suggesting that it would be possible to achieve an efficient formic acid oxidation on the low Pt-loading. Therefore, the Pt-Bi/Au electrode offers a promising catalyst with a high activity for direct oxidation of formic acid in fuel cells.

Keywords catalyst electrochemical deposition formic acid oxidation fuel cell gold wire array microfabrication

Corresponding Author(s): YU Han-Qing,Email:hqyu@ustc.edu.cn

Issue Date: 01 June 2013

Cite this article:

Shu-Hong LI,Yue ZHAO,Jian CHU, et al. A Pt-Bi bimetallic nanoparticle catalyst for direct electro-oxidation of formic acid in fuel cells[J]. Front Envir Sci Eng, 2013, 7(3): 388-394.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-012-0475-y
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2013/V7/I3/388

Fig.1 Images of the gold wire array substrate: (a) 10× optical zoom; and (b) 50× optical zoom

Fig.2 CVs of the gold wire array substrate in the electrochemical deposition solution (scan rate: 50 mV·s,0.002 mol·L HPtCl, 0.02 mol·L Bi(NO), 40 mL·L triethanolamine, dimethyl sulfoxide)

Fig.3 XPS of the Pt-Bi NPs supported on gold wire array substrate: (a) PtBi/Au; and (b) three different Pt-Bi/Au catalysts

Tab.1 Structural parameters of the Pt-Bi/Au catalysts

Fig.4 SEM images of the Pt-Bi NPs. (a) PtBi/Au; (b) PtBi/Au; and (c) PtBi/Au

Fig.5 CVs of the three electrodes at a scan rate of 10 mV·s in 0.1 mol·L HSO, 0.25 mol·L HCOOH aqueous solution: (A) PtBi/Au; (B) PtBi/Au; and (C) PtBi/Au. The inset is the magnified CV of Pt/Au

Fig.6 Chronoamperograms of the three electrodes at a scan rate of 0.4 V·s in 0.1 mol·L HSO, 0.25 mol·L HCOOH aqueous solution: (A) PtBi/Au; (B) PtBi/Au; (C) PtBi/Au; and (D) Pt/Au

Fig.7 CVs of PtBi/Au, Pt-Bi/Au-film and Pt-Bi/ITO electrodes at a scan rate of 10 mV·s in 0.1 mol·L HSO, 0.25 mol·L HCOOH aqueous solution

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