Electrochemical and spontaneous deposition of ruthenium at platinum electrodes for methanol oxidation: an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study

摘要

PtRu electrodes with Ru surface concentration ranging from 20 to 50% were prepared by electrolysis of Ru(NO)(NO{sub}3){sub}3 at a constant potential and/or by spontaneous Ru deposition performed at open circuit potential from a RuCl{sub}3 solution. The amount of either spontaneously or electrochemically deposited ruthenium on the platinum electrode was determined by means of an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). The effect of the Ru surface concentration on the rate of methanol electrooxidation was also investigated and correlated to the EQCM measurements.