Electrochemical Quartz Microbalance for Studying Electrodeposited Pt Catalysts for Methanol Oxidation Reaction
Bangfeng Zong,
Xiaojun Pan,
Bo Wei,
Lifang Zhang,
Xiangxiong Feng,
Chenggong Hou,
Hai Yan,
Wenju Xie,
Guicheng Liu,
Feng Ye
Affiliations
Bangfeng Zong
School of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, China
Xiaojun Pan
Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System of MOE, School of Energy Power and Mechanical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Bo Wei
Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System of MOE, School of Energy Power and Mechanical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Lifang Zhang
Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System of MOE, School of Energy Power and Mechanical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Xiangxiong Feng
Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System of MOE, School of Energy Power and Mechanical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Chenggong Hou
Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System of MOE, School of Energy Power and Mechanical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Hai Yan
Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System of MOE, School of Energy Power and Mechanical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Wenju Xie
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Industrial Green Technology, Wuyi University, Nanping 354300, China
Guicheng Liu
Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System of MOE, School of Energy Power and Mechanical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Feng Ye
Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System of MOE, School of Energy Power and Mechanical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Pt catalysts are investigated for methanol oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells, utilizing the electrochemical quartz microbalance method (EQCM) with exceptional resolution and sensitivity. Pt catalysts were deposited onto the gas-diffusion layer of carbon using stationary potential electrodeposition. Physical characterization and electrochemical tests were performed. SEM results showed that Pt presented dendrite crystals with nanoscale facets. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) demonstrated that the current density for the methanol oxidation reaction highly reached 1020 mA·cm−2 for the deposited Pt catalyst by EQCM. The dendrite crystal structures of deposited Pt provide much area for high catalytic activity. It found that the peak density of the Pt catalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction decreased after five cycles. Furthermore, the response frequency for the adsorption of the deposited Pt catalysts was investigated using EQCM and compared with commercial PtRu catalysts. The results showed that the response frequency of the Pt catalysts decreased more rapidly than that of the PtRu catalysts. It is possible for the adsorption of small organic molecules on Pt catalysts to occur during the methanol electro-oxidation with COad intermediates. The reaction mechanism is preliminarily discussed by the electrochemical measurement combined with EQCM.
