Electro-oxidation of ethylene glycol on Pt-Co metal synergy for direct ethylene glycol fuel cells: Reduced graphene oxide imparting a notable surface of action

Slow electro-oxidation reaction and low power output are two major limiting factors in successful commercialization of fuel cell technology. An efficient and stable electrocatalyst with effectual metal combination supported on a durable matrix may provide a viable solution to overcome these issues. The direct ethylene glycol fuel cell consisting of bimetallic anode catalysts are expected to lead out the high-power output issues. In the present paper, we emphasized on the synthesis of a high performing CO poisoning resistant Pt based binary anode catalysts for the electro-oxidation of ethylene glycol (EG) using a chemical reduction route. The electrocatalysts consists of Pt-Co alloy nanoparticles with different composition of Pt and Co, supported on reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Physical characterizations revealed the formation of bi-metallic catalysts within the size ranges from 2 nm to 3 nm. Electrochemical analysis revealed that PtxCoy/rGO electrocatalyst with x:y molar ratio of 1:9 imparts the highest peak current and power density as compared to commercially available Pt/C and Pt-Co/C anode catalysts for ethylene glycol electro-oxidation. The power density (81.1 mW/cm(2)) obtained using PtxCoy/rGO with x:y molar ratio of 1:9 metal catalyst in DEGFC is more than other synthesized catalysts at an operating temperature of 100 degrees C and the operating pressure of 1 bar with 2 M ethylene glycol as anode fuel and anode and cathode platinum metal loading of 2 mg/cm(2)