Exploration of the Structure and Catalytic Activity of Modified Platinum Substrates

In recent years, fuel cell technology has become an intense focus of the energy research community as a potentially viable alternative to emissions-producing devices. Both methanol and formic acid are promising fuels for this type of technology; however, to maintain catalytic efficiency and purity, the platinum anode must be modified by another metal, altering the electronic and catalytic properties of the platinum favorable toward methanol or formic acid oxidation. Palladium is known to enhance the catalytic activity of platinum towards formic acid oxidation while ruthenium and osmium increase the effectiveness of the catalyst toward methanol electrooxidation. Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical methods are ideal techniques to probe the structure and catalytic activity of platinum surfaces modified by noble metal adatoms. STM and XPS studies correlate surface coverage and composition with electrochemical activity and provide a valuable method for determining highly active modified platinum substrates for methanol oxidation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Crown, Alechia

Contributors dc:contributor

• Wieckowski, Andrzej

• Engineering, Materials Science

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3030424

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/84055