Catalytic combustion of methanol on Pt–Fecralloy foams prepared by electrodeposition

Abstract

The catalytic combustion of methanol in air under lean dry conditions has been studied using Pt–Fecralloy catalysts. These catalysts were prepared by cathodic electrodeposition of Pt onto commercial 50ppi Fecralloy foams, controlling the noble metal loading through the Pt deposition charge. The catalysts were characterized by SEM and XRD at three different stages (as-prepared, after 2h pretreatment at 600°C in air and after use in methanol combustion) and their Pt surface area was estimated by cyclic voltammetry. In combustion tests, methanol oxidation started at temperatures as low as 80°C, and reached 100% conversion to CO2 at temperatures that decreased progressively for Pt loadings increasing from 0.8 to 13mgcm−3. The apparent activation energy of methanol combustion was estimated to be 68–70kJmol−1, independent of the Pt loading of the samples. Repeated combustion cycles converged with SEM, XRD characterization of used catalysts to prove the stability of Pt–Fecralloy, under the conditions employed in the tests.