Surface Oxide Film and its Influence on the Oxygen Reduction on Pd-Co and Pt-Co PEFC Cathodes

摘要

PtCo and PdCo alloy electrodes were investigated in a 0.5 M sulfuric acid solution by electrochemistry, ellipsometry, laser Raman scattering spectroscopy, XPS, and GD-OES. The corrosion resistibility of Pt-Co and Pd-Co alloys decreased with increase of Co addition. The increase of Co addition, however, enhanced the catalytic efficiency on the ORR. The alloy surfaces may be covered by CoOOH and Pt or Pd oxide 2-3nm thick. At the potential of 1.2V vs. Ag/ AgCl/ sat. KCl, the thickness of oxide film increased with the Co addition. The presence of the oxide film on the alloy electrodes increases the overvoltage for the ORR. The effect of the oxide thickness on the ORR was discussed.