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Electrochemical oxidation of methanol on platinum and platinum based electrodes

Morimoto, Yu
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1058206604

Abstract Details

1995, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Chemical Engineering.
Fuel cells offer important advantages as a power source, such as the potential for high efficiency, clean exhaust gases and quiet operation. In addition, the direct methanol fuel cell offers special benefits as a power source for transportation, such as potential high energy density, no need for a fuel reformer and a quick response. These advantages, however, have not been fully realized yet. One of the problems is the poor performance of the fuel electrode. Even platinum, which seems the most active single element for methanol oxidation in acid media, loses its electrocatalytic activity rapidly by the accumulation of adsorbed partially oxidized products. It is essential to understand the mechanisms of methanol oxidation including the adsorbate formation and removal. To this purpose, the electrochemical oxidation of adsorbed carbon monoxide (COad) and methanol was studied using electrochemical and two spectroscopic techniques, in situ infrared spectroscopy and on-line mass spectroscopy. A direct path from methanol to CO2 without COad as an intermediate was confirmed as well as a path involving COad. Under usual conditions, the direct path to CO2 was found to be suppressed by the decrease in the active sites caused by accumulation of COad. Two types of COad were recognized. Most COad appeared to be oxidized using Pt-OH as the oxygen source (hoCOad: hard-to-oxidize COad). Some sites were also found, especially on high area platinum, to allow COad to be relatively easily oxidized directly using water as the oxygen source (eoCOad: easily oxidized COad). The accessibility of oxygen sources to COad was proposed as a key factor. The effects of temperature, types and concentrations of acids were studied. The highest catalytic activity was achieved at 100°C in 1 - 3 M sulfuric acid. Ruthenium on platinum was found to promote the oxidation of hoCOad while tin on platinum was found effective for eoCOad. Enhancement of the methanol oxidation to CO2 was confirmed on platinum with either ruthenium or tin. Molybdates on platinum was also found to promote the oxidation of both eoCOad and methanol. On the basis of this study, future work is proposed.
n/a n/a (Advisor)
230 p.
Electrochemical oxidation methanol platinum electrodes

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Citations

  • Morimoto, Y. (1995). Electrochemical oxidation of methanol on platinum and platinum based electrodes [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1058206604

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Morimoto, Yu. Electrochemical oxidation of methanol on platinum and platinum based electrodes. 1995. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1058206604.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Morimoto, Yu. "Electrochemical oxidation of methanol on platinum and platinum based electrodes." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 1995. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1058206604

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1058206604
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© 1995, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.