Electrochemical performance of nano-SiC prepared in thermal plasma

Abstract

The possibility of using SiC as support for Pt and its use as alternate electrodes for fuel Coil applications has been examined. Plasma technique and hydrogen reduction method have been employed for the preparation of nano-SiC and Pt/SiC respectively. These materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Powder XRD patterns of SiC and Pt/SiC reveal the existence of beta-phase SiC and FCC structure of Pt. SEM and TEM analyses indicate a two-dimensional network of SiC chains and spherical shaped Pt particles oil SiC Support. EDX confirms the presence of Si and C in SiC and Pt, Si and C in the Pt/SiC samples. The electrochemical performance of Pt/SiC has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Oxygen reduction measurements performed by linear sweep voltammetry indicate that the as-prepared Pt/SiC catalyst exhibits ORR activity comparable with that of commercial Pt/C (E-TEK) catalyst.