A Pt/MnV2O6 nanocomposite for the borohydride oxidation reaction

• Published in: Journal of energy chemistry Vol. 55; pp. 428 - 436
• Main Authors: Milikić, Jadranka, Martins, Marta, Dobrota, Ana S., Bozkurt, Gamze, Soylu, Gulin S.P., Yurtcan, Ayşe B., Skorodumova, Natalia V., Pašti, Igor A., Šljukić, Biljana, Santos, Diogo M.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.04.2021
• Subjects: Borohydride oxidation reaction; Density functional theory; Manganese vanadate; Platinum-based electrocatalyst; Platinum-based electrocatalyst; Density functional theory; Manganese vanadate; Borohydride oxidation reaction
• ISSN: 2095-4956; 2096-885X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jechem.2020.07.029

Pt nanoparticles anchoring on MnV2O6 led to electrocatalyst with high performance for the direct borohydride fuel cell anode at low Pt loading along with remarkable stability shown by both experiments and DFT calculations. [Display omitted] Problems associated with carbon support corrosion under operating fuel cell conditions require the identification of alternative supports for platinum-based nanosized electrocatalysts. Platinum supported on manganese vanadate (Pt/MnV2O6) was prepared by microwave irradiation method and characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The borohydride oxidation reaction (BOR) on Pt/MnV2O6 was studied in highly alkaline media using voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. BOR electrocatalytic activity of Pt/MnV2O6 was also compared with that of commercial Pt/C (46 wt% Pt) electrocatalyst. The apparent activation energy of BOR at Pt/MnV2O6 was estimated to be 32 kJ mol−1 and the order of reaction to be 0.51, indicating that borohydride hydrolysis proceeds in parallel with its oxidation. Long-term stability of Pt/MnV2O6 under BOR typical conditions was observed. A laboratory-scale direct borohydride fuel cell assembled with a Pt/MnV2O6 anode reached a specific power of 274 W g−1. Experimental results on Pt/MnV2O6 were complemented by DFT calculations, which indicated good adherence of Pt to MnV2O6, beneficial for electrocatalyst stability.