Electro-Oxidation of Ethanol on Pt-WO3/C Electrocatalyst

Ptx-WO3/C electrocatalysts were prepared by microwave colloid-reduction method. Transmission electron microscopy examination showed uniform dispersion of platinum with particle sizes less than 5 nm. Structures of the Ptx-WO3/C electrocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopy, the electrochemical characteristics and electro-oxidation of electro-oxidation of ethanol on the Ptx-WO3/C electrocatalysts were also studied by cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep, and chronoamperometry. The results show that the Ptx-WO3/C electrocatalysts have higher catalytic activity to ethanol electrooxidation than the commercial Pt/C catalysts; perhaps caused by the “hydrogen spill-over effect.” The reaction mechanisms of the ethanol electro-oxidation on the Ptx-WO3/C were inferred according to the electrochemical characteristics and the data in the reported literature.