PtSn nanoparticles supported on titanium carbonitride for the ethanol oxidation reaction

The effect of titanium carbonitride (TiCN) as a new support for platinum-tin nanoparticulated catalysts for the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) in acid medium was evaluated. For that purpose, two platinum-tin catalysts supported on TiCN and carbon black (Vulcan XC-72R) were synthesized following the ethylene glycol method. XRD, TEM, ICP-OES and XPS techniques revealed that both catalysts exhibit similar physicochemical properties. However, the EOR and the CO tolerance were enhanced at the catalyst supported on TiCN. In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS) and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) were used in order to get more information on the reaction mechanism and product selectivity. Main results indicate an improvement of the CO oxidation reaction by facile water dissociation on PtSn/TiCN, and elevated current output during the EOR on PtSn/TiCN since the acetaldehyde path is the favored, meanwhile the CO and acetic acid pathways are suppressed at this catalytic material. Significant differences were observed between both catalysts, indicating an extraordinary impact of the support in the catalytic performance.