The interaction of formic acid with Pt(111) and the effect of coadsorbed water, atomic oxygen, and carbon monoxide

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Dec 20 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:10109219

Columbia, M R

We have investigated the reaction of HCOOH with the (111) surface of platinum and its dependence on surface temperature, surface concentration (coverage), and the presence of other adspecies such as H{sub 2}O, CO, and atomic oxygen. The motivation for this investigation originates in the electrochemical community, where an interest in the development of fuel cells has existed for years. Small oxygen-containing hydrocarbons like HCOOH show potential as fuels in cells utilizing platinum as the electrode material. The desired reaction in such a cell is the decomposition of the formic acid to produce CO{sub 2}, which desorbs from the electrode surface; however, a competing reaction produces adspecies which do not desorb. The accumulation of these adspecies prevents continued adsorption and reaction of formic acid and eventually renders the cell useless. We have probed the reaction of formic acid with Pt(111) in ultrahigh vacuum via thermal desorption spectroscopy and high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy.

• Research Organization: Ames Lab., IA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82
• OSTI ID: 10109219
• Report Number(s): IS-T--1540; ON: DE92005094
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300505
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201
ADSORPTION
CARBON MONOXIDE
CHEMICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTROCHEMISTRY, MASS TRANSFER, AND THERMODYNAMICS
ENERGY-LOSS SPECTROSCOPY
FORMIC ACID
FUEL CELLS
LOW TEMPERATURE
OXYGEN
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLATINUM
SURFACE PROPERTIES
ULTRAHIGH VACUUM
WATER