Platinum nanoparticles supported on a bi-metal oxide grown carbon nanostructure as an ethanol electro-oxidation electrocatalyst

The development of inexpensive and highly active ethanol electro-oxidation electrocatalysts is a great challenge. Here, we report a novel material consisting of platinum dispersed on a bi-metal oxide grown carbon nanostructure as an ethanol electro-oxidation electrocatalyst. The carbon nanostructure has been synthesized by the catalytic chemical vapour deposition of acetylene precursor over Fe-Sn-O particles. Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles have been decorated on a bi-metal oxide grown carbon nanostructure (CNS-FSO) by the polyol reduction technique. The suitability of the electrocatalyst for ethanol electro-oxidation is examined by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry techniques. Pt supported on CNS-FSO exhibited a higher catalytic activity towards ethanol electro-oxidation in comparison to commercially available platinum on Vulcan XC-72 and platinum nanoparticles decorated functionalized multi walled carbon nanotubes. This superior activity can be attributed to the unique properties of CNS-FSO as well as the synergic effect between platinum and CNS-FSO.