Abstract

This paper presents a study involving the use of Pt₃Sn/C electrocatalysts as cathodes and anodes in a single direct ethanol fuel cell. First, we studied the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) using commercial Pt/C from ETEK and Pt₃Sn/C as electrocatalysts with an alloy degree of 92 %. The electrocatalytic activity of the material for oxygen reduction was assessed using the rotating disk electrode technique (RDE). When Pt₃Sn was tested for ORR in the presence of ethanol, the results showed greater tolerance to the cross-over effect than Pt/C in the electrochemical cell. The experiments in a single direct ethanol fuel cell showed that without oxygen pressurization of the cell, the maximum power density is higher using Pt₃Sn/C as both cathode and anode than using Pt₃Sn as an anode and Pt/C as a cathode. When using Pt₃Sn/C as both the cathode and anode in a direct ethanol fuel cell, cell performance enhances.

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