Synergistic effect in the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on platinum+palladium alloy electrodes

Abstract

The electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol has been investigated on platinium+palladium alloy electrodes of different compositions in acid, neutral and alkaline aqueous solutions. The surface characteristics (composition and roughness factor) of the alloys and the stability of the electrodes in contact with different electrolytic solutions have been studied using cyclic voltammetry. In particular, a surface enrichment in platinum due to a preferential dissolution of palladium and an increase of the roughness factor with an increase of the palladium content has been shown. The electrocatalytic activity of different alloys for methanol oxidation has been characterized by exchange current densities obtained from extrapolation of Tafel lines of calculated equilibrium potential. The plot of these current densities vs. the surface composition leads to a synergistic effect, particularly important in alkaline medium. A reasonable explanation of this enhanced electroactivity at about 15 at.% in Pd is given on the basis of a decrease of electrode poisoning.