PtSn/C electrocatalysts modified with Ni and Ga for the ethanol electrooxidation

Ni and Ga elements are inexpensive compared to the Pt. Ni and NiOx have been recognized to have potential applications in ethanol electrooxidation. For these reasons and based on previous results obtained with Ga addition on Pt-based electrocatalysts we have investigated the PtSn/C electrocatalysts modified with Ni and Ga. The PtSnNiGa/C electrocatalysts were characterized in acidic medium by electrochemical techniques and by physicochemical techniques such as: X-ray diffraction; Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; Transmission electron microscopy. Based on the TEM analyses, the PtSnNiGa/C electrocatalysts show average particle sizes range between 3.6 – 5.5 nm, which is consistent with XRD data. The ethanol oxidation on the PtSnNiGa/C electrocatalysts occurs at lower potentials as compared to the Pt/C. The higher current normalized by Pt mass (2.62 Ag-1Pt), lower susceptibility to poisoning anodic and charge transfer resistance (245 Ω) were obtained for the Pt45Sn22Ni21Ga12/C electro