Benzene Adsorption - A Significant Inhibitor for the Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction in Alkaline Conditions
Abstract
Slow hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) kinetics on Pt under alkaline conditions is a significant technical barrier for the development of high-performance hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells. Here we report that benzene adsorption on Pt is a major factor responsible for the sluggish HOR. Furthermore, we demonstrate that bimetallic catalysts, such as PtMo/C, PtNi/C, and PtRu/C, can reduce the adsorption of benzene and thereby improve HOR activity. In particular, the HOR voltammogram of PtRu/C in 0.1 M benzyl ammonium showed minimal benzene adsorption. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the adsorption of benzyl ammonium on the bimetallic PtRu is endergonic for all four possible orientations of the cation, which explains the significantly better HOR activity observed for the bimetallic catalysts. In conclusion, the new HOR inhibition mechanism described here provides insights for the design of future polymer electrolytes and electrocatalysts for better-performing polymer membrane-based fuel cells.
- Authors:
-
- Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Fuel Cell Technologies Program (EE-3F)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1400129
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-17-28842
Journal ID: ISSN 1948-7185; TRN: US1703101
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 8; Journal Issue: 19; Journal ID: ISSN 1948-7185
- Publisher:
- American Chemical Society
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Energy Sciences
Citation Formats
Gonzales, Ivana, Chung, Hoon Taek, and Kim, Yu Seung. Benzene Adsorption - A Significant Inhibitor for the Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction in Alkaline Conditions. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b02228.
Gonzales, Ivana, Chung, Hoon Taek, & Kim, Yu Seung. Benzene Adsorption - A Significant Inhibitor for the Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction in Alkaline Conditions. United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b02228
Gonzales, Ivana, Chung, Hoon Taek, and Kim, Yu Seung. Mon .
"Benzene Adsorption - A Significant Inhibitor for the Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction in Alkaline Conditions". United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b02228. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1400129.
@article{osti_1400129,
title = {Benzene Adsorption - A Significant Inhibitor for the Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction in Alkaline Conditions},
author = {Gonzales, Ivana and Chung, Hoon Taek and Kim, Yu Seung},
abstractNote = {Slow hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) kinetics on Pt under alkaline conditions is a significant technical barrier for the development of high-performance hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells. Here we report that benzene adsorption on Pt is a major factor responsible for the sluggish HOR. Furthermore, we demonstrate that bimetallic catalysts, such as PtMo/C, PtNi/C, and PtRu/C, can reduce the adsorption of benzene and thereby improve HOR activity. In particular, the HOR voltammogram of PtRu/C in 0.1 M benzyl ammonium showed minimal benzene adsorption. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the adsorption of benzyl ammonium on the bimetallic PtRu is endergonic for all four possible orientations of the cation, which explains the significantly better HOR activity observed for the bimetallic catalysts. In conclusion, the new HOR inhibition mechanism described here provides insights for the design of future polymer electrolytes and electrocatalysts for better-performing polymer membrane-based fuel cells.},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b02228},
journal = {Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters},
number = 19,
volume = 8,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Sep 25 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Mon Sep 25 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
Web of Science
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