Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 26 No 3 (2022): 613 - 621

 

 

 

 

PtRu SUPPORTED ON POROUS 3D TITANIUM DIOXIDE-GRAPHENE AEROGEL AS A POTENTIAL ELECTROCATALYST FOR DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELLS

 

(PtRu disokong pada 3D Titanium Dioksida-Grafin Aerogel Berliang Sebagai Potensi Elektromangkin untuk Sel Bahan Bakar Metanol Langsung)

 

Siti Hasanah Osman¹*, Siti Kartom Kamarudin^1,2, Sahriah Basri¹, Nabila A.Karim¹

 

¹Fuel Cell Institute

²Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author:  ctie@ukm.edu.my

 

 

Received: 9 November 2021; Accepted: 27 February 2022; Published:  27 June 2022 

 

 

Abstract

The catalyst support is typically implemented to improve the catalytic activity in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Thus, this study focused on the novel support of 3D hierarchical porous TiO₂-graphene aerogel which was established via a combination of hydrothermal method and freezing drying method. XRD, Raman spectra, and FESEM were used to study the PtRu/TiO₂-GA. The estimated particle size of PtRu/TiO₂-GA determined from the XRD analysis was less than composite TiO₂-GA. The existence of the carbon support material was confirmed by the Raman spectra in all generated samples. Within the electrocatalyst and TiO₂-GA, the ratio value of the D band to the G band (I_D/I_G) was not significantly different. The computed I_D/I_G values for TiO₂-GA and PtRu/TiO₂-GA electrocatalysts were 0.99 and 1.02, respectively. The best TiO₂-GA was doped with PtRu catalyst for the electrochemical test and DMFC performance based on FESEM characterization. PtRu/ TiO₂-GA exhibited better electrocatalytic activity, as well as improved PtRu usage efficiency stability and methanol oxidation reaction. Notably, the ECSA value was around 76.01 m²g^-1, and the mass activity (957.15 mAmg^-1) was higher than commercial with the same loading (20%) PtRu/C (110.79 mAmg^-1). Interestingly after the 2000s, the current density of PtRu/TiO₂-GA was consistently higher than that of PtRu/C. The superior electrocatalytic performance of PtRu/TiO₂-GA towards methanol oxidation demonstrates its use in practical application as a promising anode material for DMFCs

 

Keywords:   3D titanium dioxide-graphene aerogel, platinum-ruthenium nanoparticles, electrocatalysis, methanol electro-oxidation

 

Abstrak

Sokongan mangkin biasanya dilaksanakan untuk meningkatkan aktiviti pemangkin dalam sel bahan api metanol langsung (SFML). Oleh itu, kajian ini memberi tumpuan kepada novel sokongan pada TiO₂-grafin aerogel berliang hierarki 3D telah ditubuhkan dengan gabungan kaedah hidroterma dan kaedah pengeringan beku. XRD, spektrum Raman dan FESEM digunakan untuk mengkaji PtRu/TiO₂-GA. Anggaran saiz zarah PtRu/TiO₂-GA yang ditentukan daripada analisis XRD adalah kurang daripada komposit TiO₂-GA. Kewujudan bahan sokongan karbon telah disahkan oleh spektrum Raman dalam semua sampel yang dihasilkan.  Dalam  elektromangkin  dan TiO₂-GA,  nilai  nisbah jalur D kepada jalur G (I_D/I_G) tidak berbeza dengan ketara. Nila I_D/I_G yang dikira untuk elektromangkin TiO₂-GA dan PtRu/TiO₂-GA ialah 0.99 dan 1.02, masing-masing. TiO₂-GA terbaik akan didop dengan mangkin PtRu untuk ujian elektrokimia dan prestasi SFML berdasarkan pencirian FESEM. PtRu/ TiO₂-GA mempamerkan aktiviti elektrokatalitik yang lebih baik, serta peningkatan kestabilan kecekapan penggunaan PtRu dan tindak balas pengoksidaan metanol. Terutama, nilai ECSA adalah sekitar 76.01 m²g^-1, aktiviti jisim (957.15 mAmg^-1) adalah lebih tinggi daripada komersial dengan pemuatan yang sama (20%) PtRu/C (110.79 mAmg^-1). Menariknya selepas minit ke-2000 saat, ketumpatan semasa PtRu/TiO₂-GA sentiasa lebih tinggi daripada PtRu/C. Prestasi elektrokatalitik unggul PtRu/TiO₂-GA terhadap pengoksidaan metanol boleh digunakan dalam aplikasi praktikal sebagai bahan anod yang menjanjikan untuk DMFC.

 

Kata kunci: 3D titanium dioksida-grafin aerogel, nanopartikel platinum-ruthenium, elektromangkin, elektro-pengoksidaan metanol

 

 

Graphical Abstract

 

 

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