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Effect of the electrode structure on the electrocatalytic oxidation of low-weight alcohols. Applications to the direct alcohol fuel cell

Book ·
OSTI ID:33602
The use of an electron conducting polymer, such as polyaniline (PAni), as a catalyst support, is a very convenient way to obtain highly dispersed electrodes for the electrooxidation of low-weight alcohols (methanol and ethanol). Such electrodes, containing very low amounts of platinum, can be modified by adding a second metal in order to promote the electrocatalytic activity of pure platinum. With Pt-Ru or Pt-Sn/PAni modified electrodes, a relative large negative shift of the oxidation potential was observed, particularly with ethanol, for which the electrooxidation starts at potentials as low as 0.2 V/RHE. Moreover a significant decrease of the poisoning phenomena was also observed. The nature of the adsorbed species and reaction products was also investigated by on-line liquid chromatography and in situ IR Reflectance Spectroscopy.
OSTI ID:
33602
Report Number(s):
CONF-940529--; ISBN 1-56677-080-7
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English