Particle size effect: Methanol oxidation on supported Pt catalysts

Abstract

The methanol oxidation was studied at two differently prepared supported Pt electrodes (Pt-C/GC and Pt/GC) in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 0.1 M NaOH. The supported Pt electrodes were characterized by AFM, STM TEM and HRTEM. The higher activity of Pt-C/GC than of Pt/GC catalyst, as well as negligible differences in the activities between the supported Pt catalysts and the corresponding single crystal electrodes oriented as the sites in the catalyst deposits in which Pt particles are dominant, clearly suggest the influence of the particle size effect on the catalyst activity.