Platinum-niobium(V) oxide/carbon nanocomposites prepared by microwave synthesis for ethanol oxidation

Abstract

In the present work, Pt nanoparticles were deposited by means of microwave synthesis on the primary carbon supported Nb2O5 composite which was prepared in two different ways: (A) by dispersion of Nb2O5 and carbon with the mass ratio equal to 1:1 in a 2-propanol solution by ultrasonication for 30 min. with further desiccation of the mixture and (B) by heating the Nb2O5/C composite obtained according to the procedure (A) at 500 °C for 2 h. The transmission electron microscopy was used to determine the shape and the size of catalyst particles. X-ray diffraction and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy were employed to characterize the structure and composition of the synthesized catalysts. The electrocatalytic activity of the synthesized catalysts towards the oxidation of ethanol in an alkaline medium was investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry.