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

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Dec 20 00:00:00 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
• Resource Relation: Other Information: TH: Thesis (Ph.D.); PBD: 20 Dec 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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