Oxidation of isotopically-labeled ethanol on platinum-tin-rhodium surfaces: Enhancing the production of CO_2 from methyl groups

摘要

In this paper, we investigate the electro-oxidation of isotopically labeled ethanol on PtSnRh electrodeposits. By monitoring the oxidation products by in situ FTIR we show that the high catalytic activity of PtSnRh catalysts is due to their ability to promote the C-C cleavage, as well as the oxidation of methyl groups. Also, the use of Sn in proper ratio enhances the global performance of PtSnRh catalysts towards the oxidation of ethanol, since it seems to prevent the electro-reduction of -CH_3 groups to methane, making them available to produce CO_2 in the same potential range where the alcoholic group is oxidized. As a consequence, important amounts of CO_2 are produced from both extremities of ethanol.