Microwave-assisted synthesis of a AuCeO2/C catalyst and its application for the oxidation of alcohols in an alkaline medium

Abstract

This work reports the electrocatalytic activity of the AuCeO₂/C and Au/C catalysts toward the oxidation reaction of alcohols: methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol in an alkaline medium. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were deposited onto the CeO₂/C and C (carbon) substrates using the microwave irradiation method. It has been found that deposition of AuNPs onto the CeO₂/C substrate results in the enhanced electrocatalytic activity of the AuCeO₂/C catalyst toward the oxidation reaction of methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol compared with that of the AuNPs deposited on the carbon substrate. The AuCeO₂/C catalyst showed up to 3 times higher electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of the mentioned alcohols compared with that of the Au/C catalyst.