Pt-Fe/GO Nanocatalysts: Preparation and Electrocatalytic Performance on Ethanol Oxidation

doi:10.15541/jim20240402

Abstract

Abstract:

Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFC) have garnered significant attention due to their high energy conversion efficiency, low noise levels, and environmental friendliness. However, these fuel cells still face challenges such as high catalyst costs, poor stability, and low catalytic activity. In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was utilized as support, glycol as reducing agent, and hexahydrate chloroplatinic acid as precursor to introduce non-noble metal iron (Fe). By adjusting the molar ratio of Pt to Fe, a series of PtFeₓ/GO (x=1/6, 1/5, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 1) binary alloy catalysts were synthesized using microwave-assisted heating, and nanocrystals were in situ loaded on GO support. Fe with small atomic radii was incorporated into the lattice of Pt, resulting in reduction in spacing between adjacent atoms and lattice contraction, forming Pt-Fe alloy. Electrochemical performance tests demonstrated that the catalyst specifically at x=1/3 exhibited optimal catalytic activity with an electrocatalytic active area of 69.84 m²/g, an oxidation peak current density of 858.42 A/g, and a smaller Tafel slope. Its 1100 s steady stable current was 194.80 A/g, with CO oxidation peak potential of 0.554 V, activation energy of 18.37 kJ/mol, and current density retention rate of 80.48% after 800 cycles, all surpassing the performance of commercial Pt/C(JM). This study shows that incorporating the less expensive Fe can significantly enhance the catalytic activity and stability of Pt-based catalysts, providing important theoretical foundations for the design and potential applications of Pt-based catalyst materials.

Key words: direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC), in situ load, binary alloy catalyst, microwave heating synthesis

CLC Number:

TM911

XIN Zhenyu, GUO Ruihua, WUREN Tuoya, WANG Yan, AN Shengli, ZHANG Guofang, GUAN Lili. Pt-Fe/GO Nanocatalysts: Preparation and Electrocatalytic Performance on Ethanol Oxidation[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(4): 379-387.

Figures/Tables 14

Fig. 1 (a) XRD patterns of catalysts; (b) Raman spectra of Pt/GO and PtFe1/3/GO catalysts

Fig. 2 (a) Surface scaning TEM image, (b-e) EDS elemental mappings and (f) SAED pattern of PtFe1/3/GO catalyst

Fig. 3 XPS spectra of catalysts (a) Survey spectra of Pt/GO and PtFe1/3/GO; (b-d) Pt4f spectra of (b) Pt/C(JM), (c) Pt/GO, and (d) PtFe1/3/GO

Table 1 Fitting results of Pt(0) and Pt(II) contents in catalysts

Catalyst	Pt(0)/eV	Relative ratio/%	Pt(II)/eV	Relative ratio/%
Pt/C(JM)	71.56, 74.94	61.22	72.39, 76.28	38.78
Pt/GO	71.30, 74.77	56.10	71.97, 76.50	43.89
PtFe_1/3/GO	71.25, 74.63	57.41	71.87, 75.17	42.59

Fig. 4 (a) Active surface area curves, (b) cyclic voltammetry curves, (c) Tafel slopes, (d) I-t curves, and (e) CO dissolution curves for different catalyst samples; (f) Peak current density of this work compared with literature[6,33⇓⇓⇓ -37] Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 5 (a) Variable temperature cyclic voltammetry fitting curves and (b) depletion cyclic voltammetry fitting curves for different catalysts Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. S1 Raman spectra of catalysts

Fig. S2 ICP-OES result of PtFe1/3/GO catalyst

Fig. S3 TEM, HRTEM images and particle size distribution histograms of Pt/GO and PtFex/GO catalysts (a1-a3) Pt/GO; (b1-b3) PtFe1/6/GO; (c1-c3) PtFe1/5/GO; (d1-d3) PtFe1/4/GO; (e1-e3) PtFe1/3/GO; (f1-f3) PtFe1/2/GO; (g1-g3) PtFe1/GO

Fig. S4 Variable temperature cyclic voltammetry curves of catalysts (a) Pt/C(JM); (b) Pt/GO; (c) PtFe1/6/GO; (d) PtFe1/5/GO; (e) PtFe1/4/GO; (f) PtFe1/3/GO; (g) PtFe1/2/GO; (h) PtFe1/GO

Fig. S5 Attenuated cyclic voltammetry curves of catalysts (a) Pt/C(JM); (b) Pt/GO; (c) PtFe1/6/GO; (d) PtFe1/5/GO; (e) PtFe1/4/GO; (f) PtFe1/3/GO; (g) PtFe1/2/GO; (h) PtFe1/GO

Table S1 Comparison of performance of Pt-catalysts in this work and in literature

Sample	Active area/(m²·g^-1)	Peak current density/(A·g^-1)	Steady-state current density/(A·g^-1)	Ref.
PtFe_1/3/GO	69.84	858.42	194.80	This Work
PtNiCeO₂/C	90.41	837.67	178.33	[S1]
Pt/Fe₂P	80	721	-	[S2]
Pt-Sn/NC-E	121.5	81.25	-	[S3]
SnO₂@PtRhNi	18	90	-	[S4]
Pt-CeO₂/TiNNTs	-	670	-	[S5]
NP-Pt-Si	-	785.23	87.56	[S6]

Fig. S6 TEM images of PtFe1/3/GO after cyclic testing (a) Surface scanning TEM image; (b-e) Surface EDS elemental mappings; (f) SAED pattern

Fig. S7 (a) TEM, (b) HRTEM images and (c) particle size distribution histogram of PtFe1/3/GO catalyst after cyclic testing

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