Cost-effective functionalization of Vulcan XC-72 by using the intermittent microwave heating process as nanocatalyst support for ethanol electrooxidation in acid media

W.J. Pech-Rodríguez , F.J. Rodríguez-Varela , E. Rocha-Rangel , D. González-Quijano , J.C. Martínez-Loyola , G. Vargas-Gutiérrez , G. Suarez-Velazquez , C. Morais (1) , Teko Napporn (1)

1 IC2MP [Poitiers] - Institut de chimie des milieux et matériaux de Poitiers [UMR 7285]

Vulcan XC-72 samples were functionalized with methanol (MeOH) by the Intermittent Microwave Heating (NH) under different treatment conditions. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed method, citric acid (CA) functionalization was also performed as comparison. The effectiveness of the surface treatment of the carbonaceous materials was assessed by using them as support for Pt/C-MeOH and PVC-CA nanocatalysts and conducting investigations of their catalytic activity for the Ethanol Oxidation Reaction (EOR). FTIR characterization reveals that Pt/C-MeOH was mainly composed of C-O, CH3 and OH functional groups while Pt/C-CA presents more C-C) species. The most active nanocatalyst was Pt/C-MeOH2 (0.15 mol L-1 MeOH and 8 min heating) which generated a current of 63.7 mA cm(-2). In situ SPAIRS measurements showed that the EOR at Pt/C-MeOH2 follows a C2-pathway mechanism where acetaldehyde is further oxidized to acetic acid, resulting in a high current density (j) generated from the EOR. Meanwhile, a competition between the C1 and C2 pathway was observed at Pt/C. The study demonstrated that the proposed IMH functionalization of Vulcan with MeOH produces carbon supported Pt nanocatalysts with enhanced catalytic activity for the EOR, with potential application in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells (DEFC). Also, we believe that this simple and cost-effective green methanol functionalization can open opportunities to for the rational design of alloyed nanostructures useful in other areas of catalysis

Domaines: Chimie

W.J. Pech-Rodríguez, F.J. Rodríguez-Varela, E. Rocha-Rangel, D. González-Quijano, J.C. Martínez-Loyola, et al.. Cost-effective functionalization of Vulcan XC-72 by using the intermittent microwave heating process as nanocatalyst support for ethanol electrooxidation in acid media. Revista Mexicana De Ingenieria Quimica, 2021, 20 (2), pp.955-973. ⟨10.24275/rmiq/Cat2346⟩. ⟨hal-03441712⟩