Electrocatalysts, and fuel cells containing them
Provided are electrocatalysts, fuel cells, methods of making fuel cells, and methods of generating an electric current, each featuring a platinum (Pt)-containing substrate in contact with an aqueous solution comprising Pb2+. Electrocatalysts of the invention are formed via underpotential deposition (UPD) when a trace amount of Pb2+ is present in the electrolyte of a half anodic cell for oxidizing formic acid using Pt as the anode. Surprisingly, the UPD process dramatically enhances the activity of formic acid oxidation, at least as much as 10-fold compared with palladium (Pd) black. In an embodiment, the electrocatalyst comprises a Pt-containing substrate, a submonolayer of lead (Pb) adsorbed onto the Pt-containing substrate, and an aqueous solution comprising Pb2+, wherein the concentration of Pb2+ in the aqueous solution is 10 to 500 μm.
- Research Organization:
- Georgetown Univ., Washington, DC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-07ER15895
- Assignee:
- Georgetown University (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- 10,658,678
- Application Number:
- 14/739,063
- OSTI ID:
- 1650928
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 06/15/2015
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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