Efeito de inserção de ferro em nanocatalisadores à base de platina para melhorar a eletro-oxidação do glicerol em meio alcalino.

Searching for analternative fuel with lower toxicity, safer handling, higher energy density, and higher electron transfer rate, one can easily propose glycerolas an alcohol with potential application in fuel cell devices. The addition of a second metal or metallic oxideatPt-based alloys furnishedinteresting and positive results concerning the glycerol electrooxidation [1].Electrocatalysts with nominal composition PtM (50:50), M= Fe or Fe2O3, supported oncarbon Vulcan XC-72 were prepared by the PolyolMethod [2]in order to obtain catalysts with 20 % wt. metal loading. The electrocatalysts were characterized by X-ray Diffraction, Energy Dispersive X-ray, Cyclic Voltammetry (0.05-1.05 V vs.RHE), CO-Strippingand Chronoamperometry at 0.55 V vs.RHE during30, 60, and 90 min. Electrochemical measurements were performed in alkaline medium (NaOH 0.10 mol L-1) and at 0.5 mol L-1of glycerol.The crystallitesize for all the catalysts liein the range 1.1 and 1.4nm. Voltammetric and chronoamperometricexperimentsindicating that theintroductionof the Fe orFe2O3contributeto increase the catalytic activity compared to pure Pt catalyst. Electrochemical Surface Area (ECSA) obtained by CO-Stripping does not show aclear correlation between with thecatalytic activity (Table 1). The PtFe/C catalyst showed the best result for glycerol electrooxidation. Being the best candidate for tests in DAFCS and electrolysis for analysis of the products formed in the oxidation process of glycerol.