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Methanol oxidation on Pt/CeO2@C–N electrocatalysts prepared by the in-situ carbonization of polyvinylpyrrolidone

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Abstract

This research is aimed to improve the poor electron conductivity of CeO2 as the catalyst support for methanol oxidation. Pt/CeO2 catalyst coated with nitrogen-doped carbon layer has been prepared through a combined microwave-assisted polyol with in-situ carbonization of nitrogen-doped carbon-coating process using polyvinylpyrrolidone as the nitrogen-doped carbon precursor. Electrochemical results show that Pt/CeO2 catalyst coated with nitrogen-doped carbon layer has higher activity than the uncoated Pt/CeO2 catalyst due to more uniform dispersion, electron-donating effects, and the superior electrical conductivity of the CeO2 support enhanced by the nitrogen-doped carbon layer. Further, electrochemical results show that the optimal doped amount of polyvinylpyrrolidone is 20 wt%. The physical characteristics such as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer have confirmed the existence of the nitrogen-doped carbon layer on CeO2.

Graphical Abstract

A novel Pt/CeO2 catalyst coated with N-doped carbon layer has been successfully prepared through a combined microwave-assisted polyol with in-situ carbonization of N-doped carbon-coating process using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the N-doped carbon precursor. The greatly improved activity and durability of Pt/CeO2@C–N catalyst is mainly a consequence of more uniform dispersion, smaller size of Pt nanoparticles, and the superior electrical conductivity of the CeO2 support enhanced by the N-doped carbon layer.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21206124, No. 21503059 and No. 21506159), Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin (No. 12JCZDJC28400 and No. 12JCQNJC08600), and the Science and Technology Plans of Tianjin (No. 15PTSYJC00230).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, Tianjin Polytechnic University, No. 399 Binshui West Road, Tianjin, 300387, China

    Xiaoyao Tan & Yuanyuan Chu

  2. School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, No. 399 Binshui West Road, Tianjin, 300387, China

    Jingjing Yang, Xiaoyao Tan, Yu Qian, Long Li, Yu Xue, Zhao Dai, Haitao Wang & Yuanyuan Chu

  3. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Normal University, No. 1 Normal University South Road, Harbin, 150001, China

    Weili Qu

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  1. Jingjing Yang
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Correspondence to Xiaoyao Tan or Yuanyuan Chu.

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Yang, J., Tan, X., Qian, Y. et al. Methanol oxidation on Pt/CeO2@C–N electrocatalysts prepared by the in-situ carbonization of polyvinylpyrrolidone. J Appl Electrochem 46, 779–789 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-016-0969-6

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