Surface chemistry of electrocatalysts: Annual report, July 1, 1986 through June 30, 1987

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6459159

Hubbard, A T

A new methodology for investigation of adsorbed ions and molecules in the electrocatalytic processes upon which fuel cells depend is based upon electron energy-loss, and inelastic scattering of low-energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) with electrochemical surface pretreatment to obtain the vibrational spectra of a family of sulfur-organic compounds related to thiophenol. EELS spectra prove to be a remarkably clear indicator of the identity of an adsorbed molecule, fragment or functional group of an electrode surface. Typical electroactive adsorbates are unaffected by evacuation and thus readily studied. Elastic scattering of low-energy electrons proves to be a source of highly precise packing-density data from which to deduce adsorbate molecular orientation and mode of bonding to the surface. EELS and elastic scattering data were obtained for a family sulfur-organic compounds related to thiophenol. Objectives of current and future work include: identification of organic species at electrode surfaces; determination of the modes of surface attachment; comparison of adsorption strengths of common functional groups; and measurement of the reaction rates and reaction pathways of specific adsorbed molecular species.

• Research Organization: Cincinnati Univ., OH (USA). Dept. of Chemistry
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-86ER45247
• OSTI ID: 6459159
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/45247-1; ON: DE87010481
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300503* -- Fuel Cells-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
ADSORPTION
AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
CATALYSTS
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTROCATALYSTS
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ENERGY-LOSS SPECTROSCOPY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SCATTERING
SORPTION
SPECTROSCOPY
SURFACES