skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: The electrochemical oxidation of methanol on single crystal surfaces of platinum

Miscellaneous ·
OSTI ID:6338634

The electrochemical oxidation of methanol was studied on the low index planes of platinum-(100), (110), (111)-and on polycrystalline platinum in 0.1 M HClO{sub 4}. Presently, platinum is the most active electrocatalyst for this oxidation reaction and acid electrolytes are preferred because they are CO{sub 2} rejecting. Linear sweep cyclic voltammetry and LEED were used to verify that the flame annealed platinum single crystal surfaces used in this work were well ordered. A novel technique-the Hanging Meniscus Rotating Disk electrode (HMRD)-was used to differentiate voltammetric features arising from surface structure effects from those due to electrolytic impurities. The reactivity of these well-ordered surfaces for the oxidation of methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid, and carbon monoxide was studied by linear sweep cyclic voltammetry, potential step, and HMRD methods. The kinetics of each organic oxidation was dependent upon the crystallographic plane in contact with the solution. The effect of CO on the oxidation of methanol, formic acid, and formaldehyde was studied. CO was determined to be an intermediate in the oxidation of methanol by both electrochemical and spectroscopic methods. In situ FTIR studies also showed that the methanol oxidation reaction was dependent upon electrode surface structure. Linearly adsorbed CO was detected on all three low index surfaces and the frequency at which it appeared was dependent upon the crystal face. The production of CO{sub 2} via the oxidation of methanol was monitored via FTIR. The mechanistic implications of these findings were discussed.

Research Organization:
Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (USA)
OSTI ID:
6338634
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Formic acid decomposition on polycrystalline platinum and palladized platinum electrodes
Journal Article · Thu Nov 04 00:00:00 EST 1999 · Journal of Physical Chemistry B: Materials, Surfaces, Interfaces, amp Biophysical · OSTI ID:6338634

Adsorption and electrooxidation of some simple organic molecules on rhodium(111) as probed by real-time FTIR spectroscopy: Comparisons with platinum(111)
Journal Article · Thu Oct 05 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Journal of Physical Chemistry; (USA) · OSTI ID:6338634

Fuel cell applied research: electrocatalysis and materials. Quarterly report, July 1-September 30, 1978
Technical Report · Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979 · OSTI ID:6338634