Preparation of PtSn/C-Rh and PtSn/C-CeO2 for Ethanol Electro-Oxidation

PtSn/CeO2–C electrocatalyst and PtSn/Rh-C were prepared in a two step. In the first step a Carbon Vulcan XC72 + 15%CeO2 and Vulcan XC72 + 15%Rh supports were prepared using a modified polymeric precursor method under controlled synthesis conditions. In the second step PtSn electrocatalyst was prepared by an alcohol-reduction process using ethylene glycol as solvent and reducing agent and supported on Vulcan XC72 + 15%CeO2 and Vulcan XC72 + 15%Rh. The obtained electrocatalysts were characterized by XRD and cyclic voltammetry. The electro-oxidation of ethanol was studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry at room temperature. PtSn(50:50)/CeO2–C electrocatalyst showed a significant increase of performance for ethanol oxidation compared to PtSn/C catalyst and others electrocatalysts prepared.