Hydrothermal Green Synthesis of LaOx-Modified Pt/C Catalyst for Glycerol-to-Glycerate Electrooxidation in Alkaline Medium

Abstract

Using the bromide anion exchange (BAE) green method to obtain carbon-supported nanoparticles, Pt(LaOx)/C was successfully prepared under mild conditions. This material, containing LaOx species generated in situ during the synthesis, was efficiently used as an anode to perform glycerol oxidation in alkaline medium in batch mode and at room temperature. In a direct alcohol fuel cell (DAFC), this catalyst was able to boost the glycerol-to-glycerate conversion with a 49% selectivity and a 28% power density higher than the same system using a BAE-synthesized Pt/C anode. The increase in catalytic activity may be due to the interaction of LaOx with the Pt active sites, acting as a bifunctional electrode. Furthermore, when used as an anode in an electrolysis setup, the selectivity of glycerol toward glycerate increased up to 67%. In situ FTIR and HPLC analyses confirmed the formation of the value-added glycerol oxidation products.