US EPA

1445900 

Journal Article 

Ethanol electrooxidation on activated graphite supported platinum-nickel in alkaline medium 

Chelaghmia, ML; Nacef, M; Affoune, AM 

2012 

1 

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry
ISSN: 0021-891X
EISSN: 1572-8838 

42 

10 

819-826 

10.1007/s10800-012-0440-2 

WOS:000309590800001 

In this study, activated graphite-supported platinum
(Pt/C), nickel (Ni/C) and platinum-nickel (Pt-Ni/C) were prepared by electrodeposition technique
using solutions containing hexachloroplatinic acid and/or nickel sulphate. Ethanol
electrooxidation was investigated on Pt/C, Ni/C and Pt-Ni/C electrocatalysts by cyclic
voltammetry and chronoamperometry in aqueous alkaline solution containing 1.0 M NaOH and 2.0 M
C2H5OH. The electrocatalytic activities and stabilities of the electrocatalysts were discussed.
The results showed that ethanol is oxidized anodically on Ni/C. This reaction occured
simultaneously with the anodic oxidation of nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)(2)) into nickel oxy-
hydroxide (NiOOH). It is also found that Pt-Ni/C electrocatalytic characteristics were better
than Pt/C. The Pt-Ni/C electrocatalyst exhibited excellent activity and enhanced stability than
Pt/C. It seems that Pt-Ni/C is a promising electrocatalyst toward ethanol electrooxidation in
alkaline medium for fuel cells applications. 

Fuel cells; Electrodeposition; Platinum-nickel; Ethanol electrooxidation; Cyclic voltammetry