Preparation of gC3N4–Pt photoelectrocatalyst for electrooxidation of ethanol

Fuel cells (FCs) featuring high efficiency and low emission to the environment have attracted intensive research interest for over three decades, because of their important roles in the future clean energy solutions [1]. Among several alcohols, which can be used in direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs), ethanol is the most promising one due to considerable energy capacity, non-toxicity, biological renewability, easy handling and storing unlike hydrogen fuel [2-4]. In this research work, a fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode was modified with Pt nanoparticles and graphite carbon nitride (gC3N4) photoelectrocatalyst and it was used as an anode in a fuell cell. The gC3N4 was drop casted onto the electrode surface, and Pt nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of the electrode using chronoamperometric technique. The microscopic structure, morphology and electrochemical performance of the modified electrode were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Moreover, the effects of various parameters such as ethanol concentration, amount of the Pt nanoparticles and gC3N4 photoelectrocatalyst on the electrooxidation of ethanol were investigated. The results show that the proposed electrode has a high electrocatalytic activity towards the ethanol electrooxidation reaction and it can be used as a suitable anode for electrooxidation of ethanol in fuel cells.

کلیدواژه ها:

Fuel cells ، fluorine doped tin oxide ، nanoparticles ، photoelectrocatalyst