Formic acid electrooxidation on carbon supported platinum catalyst with preferential plane orientation

Abstract

Pt-based nanocatalysts supported on Vulcan XC-72R carbon, were prepared by water-in-oil microemulsion method, with addition of various amounts of HCl in the water phase. Polyethileneglycoldodecylether (BRIJ 30) was used as a surfactant, which influenced the Pt surface structure, along with HCl. Catalysts prepared with addition of 0, 15, 25 and 35 % of HCl during the synthesis, were electrochemically characterised in 0,5 M H2SO4 using cyclic voltammetry and CO oxidation. Formic acid electrooxidation was examined on all investigated catalysts, in terms of their electrocatalytic activity and stability. Platinum loading on carbon support was examined by Thermogravimetric analysis. Catalysts showed different features in hydrogen region, and slight differences in formic acid oxidation mechanisms.

Platinski nano-katalizatori na ugljeničnom nosaču Vulcan XC-72R sintetizovani su mikroemulzionom metodom, sa različitim sadržajem HCl u vodenoj fazi mikroemulzije. Kao surfaktant korišćen je polietilenglikol-dodeciletar (BRIJ30), čija je uloga da, zajedno sa HCl, utiče na strukturu površine platine. Katalizatori, koji su pripremljeni sa 0, 15, 25 i 35 % HCl u vodenoj fazi, okarakterisani su elektrohemijski u 0,5 M H2SO4, cikličnom voltametrijom i oksidacijom CO. Aktivnost i stabilnost sva četiri katalizatora ispitana je za oksidaciju mravlje kiseline. Udeo platine u prahu pripremljenih katalizatora određen je termogravimetrijskom analizom. Katalizatori su pokazali različito ponašanje u vodoničnoj oblasti osnovnih voltamograma, kao i različitu aktivnost i stabilnost za oksidaciju mravlje kiseline.