Enhanced Methanol Oxidation on Platinum Single Crystal Electrodes Studied by UHV Spectroscopies, Electrochemistry and Isotope Methods

了解甲醇在铂电极上的电催化氧化机理，对于开发用于燃料电池的改进型甲醇氧化催化剂具有重要意义。在这项研究项目中，在分析和表面化学计划的支持下，发现在铂电极上沉积亚单分子层数量的Ru可以显著提高电催化甲醇的氧化速度。超高真空电子能谱方法和放射性标记技术相结合，将被用来研究这些沉积的Ru的结构在甲醇氧化催化中的作用。这项工作可能会对这一重要催化体系的机理有一个基本的理解。本研究将探讨铂电极上沉积的亚单层Ru的结构与其对甲醇的电催化氧化活性之间的关系。这些亚单分子层的结构和组成将通过电子能谱和放射化学方法获得。接下来应该更详细地了解这一具有重要技术意义的催化反应。

Understanding the mechanism of the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on platinum electrodes is important to the development of improved methanol oxidation catalysts for use in fuel cells. In this research project, supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, submonolayer amounts of ruthenium deposited on a platinum electrode have been found to significantly enhance the rate of electrocatalytic methanol oxidation. A combination of ultra high vacuum electron spectroscopic methods and radio-labelling techniques will be used to investigate the role of the structure of these ruthenium deposits in the methanol oxidation catalysis. A basic understanding of the mechanism of this important catalytic system is likely to result from this work. The correlation between the structure of submonolayer ruthenium deposits on platinum electrodes, and their activity for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol will be explored in this research project. Structures and compositions of these submonolayer deposits will be obtained by electron spectroscopic and radiochemical methods. A more detailed understanding of this technologically important catalytic reaction should ensue.