Is carbon-supported Pt-WO x composite a CO-tolerant material?

Abstract

Pt-WO x /C composite materials elaborated via a two-step impregnation/electrochemical reduction method have been characterized and tested for the electrooxidation of CO/H 2 mixtures. TEM and EDS measurements revealed that WO x covered imperfectly the C particles. Nanometer-sized or agglomerated Pt particles were found on the WO x /C surface. XRD measurements revealed the absence of diffraction peaks characteristic of crystalline WO x and could indicate that this material is amorphous. No evidence of alloying between the Pt and W was observed. A significant improvement toward the electrooxidation of a CO ads monolayer was observed for the composite material compared to pure Pt/C electrocatalyst, which is evidenced by a new electrooxidation peak at 0.55 V versus RHE ( v = 0.02 V s − 1 ). As the electrical charge below this electrooxidation peak is sweep rate dependant, it is probably associated to the electrooxidation of CO ads on Pt sites at the interface with the WO x /C support. The performance of the Pt-WO x /C material for the electrooxidation of CO/H 2 mixtures was tested by polarization curves under steady-state conditions (0.001 V s −1) or potentiostatic measurements under fuel cell relevant conditions and compared with that of commercial 20 wt% Pt/C and Pt-Ru/C materials.