Development of Tailor-Designed Gold-Platinum Nanoparticles Binary Catalysts for Efficient Formic Acid Electrooxidation

摘要

The modification of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode with platinum (PtNPs) and gold (AuNPs)nanoparticles is targeted to fabricate efficient anodes for the electrooxidation of formic acid (FA). Aproper adjustment of the deposition sequence of PtNPs and AuNPs could eventually enhance theelectrocatalytic activity of the electrode in such a way that suppresses the CO poisoning effect duringFA oxidation. The highest catalytic activity is obtained at the Au/Pt/GC electrode (with PtNPs firstlydeposited on the GC electrode followed by AuNPs). This superb enhancement is quantified bycomparing the relative ratio of the direct vs. the indirect oxidation peaks at 0.3 and 0.65 V,respectively, at each electrode. The fundamental role of AuNPs (in Au/Pt/GC electrode) impartsimmunity to the underlying PtNPs against CO poisoning by interrupting the contiguity of the Ptsurface sites, thus, prevents the deterioration of the catalytic activity of the anode.