The effect of the composition of the alloy of RuO2 and Pt nanocrystals on intermediate adsorption during methanol oxidation

Abstract

A catalytic coating composed of a mixture of RuO2 and Pt nanocrystals was prepared by a thermal procedure on a titanium substrate and used for the electrochemical oxidation of methanol. The adsorption of the intermediate CO, formed by methanol oxidation on Pt nanocrystals, depended on potential and the coating composition. An increase in the RuO2 content decreased the rate of methanol dehydrogenation and increased the rate of oxidation of the strongly bound intermediate COad. This caused a decrease in the maximum coverage of Pt nanocrystals with COad and a shift of the rapid linear drop in COad coverage to more negative potentials.