Abstract
Pt-Bi/C and Pt-Pb/C catalysts were prepared by surface decoration of a commercial Pt/C catalyst, and their catalytic activities for electrochemical oxidation of formic acid, methanol and ethanol were compared. The electrocatalytic activity of these catalysts towards formic acid oxidation has been studied by both cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. It was found that after addition of Bi or Pb, the catalytic activity of the Pt/C catalyst for formic acid oxidation increased greatly at low potentials. Bi in particular was found to greatly enhance oxidation of formic acid through the direct pathway in which absorbed CO is not formed, while it strongly inhibited methanol oxidation. It was found that the currents at 0 V vs SCE for formic acid oxidation at the Pt-Bi/C and Pt-Pb/C catalysts were ~ 6 and ~ 2 times higher, respectively compared to the unmodified Pt/C catalyst. In addition, the Pt-Bi/C catalyst showed more stable activity relative to Pt-Pb/C. The Pt-Bi/C catalyst also showed slightly higher activity for ethanol oxidation at low potentials compared to the unmodified Pt/C.
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