ELECTROOXIDATION OF C1 MOLECULES AT PT-BASED CATALYSTS HIGHLY DISPERSED INTO A POLYMER MATRIX - EFFECT OF THE METHOD OF PREPARATION

The electro-oxidation of oxygenated molecules containing one carbon at om (methanol, formaldehyde and formic acid) was systematically studied at highly dispersed Pt-based electrodes. The method of preparation ap peared to be a key point, particularly for Pt-Sn catalysts. An importa nt decrease of the poisoning phenomena was systematically found, mainl y with this latter electrode, but also with Pt-Ru and Pt-Ru-Sn electro des. In the case of methanol oxidation, ruthenium-modified Pt electrod es are the best electrocatalysts, displaying the weakest poisoning. Co nversely, for formic acid and formaldehyde oxidation, Pt-Sn alloys giv e the most interesting results, better than those obtained with Pt-Ru.