title: Tin-oxide-coated single-walled carbon nanotube bundles supporting platinum electrocatalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells.
abstract: Novel tin-oxide (SnO(2))-coated single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) bundles supporting platinum (Pt) electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation were developed for direct ethanol fuel cells. SnO(2)-coated SWNT (SnO(2)-SWNT) bundles were synthesized by a simple chemical-solution route. SnO(2)-SWNT bundles supporting Pt (Pt/SnO(2)-SWNTs) electrocatalysts and SWNT-supported Pt (Pt/SWNT) electrocatalysts were prepared by an ethylene glycol reduction method. The catalysts were physically characterized using TGA, XRD and TEM and electrochemically evaluated through cyclic voltammetry experiments. The Pt/SnO(2)-SWNTs showed greatly enhanced electrocatalytic activity for ethanol oxidation in acid medium, compared to the Pt/SWNT. The optimal SnO(2) loading of Pt/SnO(2)-SWNT catalysts with respect to specific catalytic activity for ethanol oxidation was also investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, Waterloo Institute of Sustainable Energy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Ryan S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Drew
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: Zhongwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D017971:Tin Compounds; D000431:Ethanol; D010984:Platinum; C045358:stannic oxide