Catalytic activity of platinized titanium and titanium coated with ruthenium oxide in the processes of electrooxidation of ethyl alcohol in alkaline media

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the catalytic activity of platinized titanium and titanium coated with ruthenium oxide in the processes of electrooxidation of ethyl alcohol in alkaline phosphate electrolyte and potassium hydroxide electrolyte in nonflowing membraneless fuel cells proposed by the authors. In these systems, an interface between the phases formed, which played the role of a membrane. Cyclic voltammetry, pulse chronoamperometry and gas-liquid chromatography were used to study the corrosion resistance and catalytic activity of ethanol oxidation on the selected electrodes. Platinized titanium and titanium coated with ruthenium oxide, involving a thin layer of platinum or ruthenium oxide on a perforated titanium mesh, were investigated. RESULTS: It is found that the oxidation of ethyl alcohol proceeds more actively on the surface of titanium coated with ruthenium oxide in alkaline phosphate electrolyte, with the formation of acetaldehyde as the main reaction product. In potassium hydroxide electrolyte, acetaldehyde and acetic acid are formed on the surface; two and four electrons are released, respectively. This indicates the C2 reaction pathway of ethanol oxidation. In contrast, the oxidation of ethyl alcohol in potassium hydroxide electrolyte proceeds more actively on the platinized titanium with the formation of acetaldehyde. CONCLUSIONS:The results obtained show that titanium electrode coated with ruthenium oxide is promising in phosphate electrolyte, but platinized titanium electrode is promising in potassium hydroxide electrolyte in the proposed non-flowing membraneless alcohol fuel cells.

Membraneless ethanol fuel cell Pt–Sn–Re nano active catalyst on a mesoporous carbon support

“…12 A number of co-catalysts are added to the Pt surface in order to circumvent these issues and make it easier to oxidize poisoning intermediates at lower overpotentials. These cocatalysts include gold (Au), 13 silver (Ag), 14 copper (Cu), 15 cobalt, 16 tin, 17 ruthenium, 18 manganese, 19 and bismuth. 20 To date, Pt-Sn bimetallic catalysts have received the most attention among the candidates and have been discovered to be the most effective for use in ethanol fuel cells.…”

Study of the catalytic activity of copper substrates coated with gold and silver foam in alcohol-alkaline media

“…Studies have been carried out to determine the catalytic activity of di-and tricatalysts structured with metal foam (Ag, Cu, Ni, Sn) and NiO, Fe 2 O 3 oxides on metal substrates made of copper [19], titanium [20] for the oxidation of ethyl alcohol in strongly alkaline solutions of KOH and K 2 HPO 4 , in the proposed fuel cell [18]. Platinum and ruthenium oxide [20], silver and copper foam and graphene [21], metal oxides NiO, Fe 2 O 3 [22], etc. have been studied as a catalyst deposited on a metal layer of a substrate.…”