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

Using the bromide anion exchange (BAE) green method to obtain carbon‐supported nanoparticles, Pt(LaO<italic>x</italic>)/C was successfully prepared under mild conditions. This material, containing LaO<italic>x</italic> 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 LaO<italic>x</italic> 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]