B. Bittinscattaneo et al., REDUCTION OF OXYGEN IN AN ACIDIC METHANOL OXYGEN (AIR) FUEL-CELL - ANONLINE MS STUDY, Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 23(6), 1993, pp. 625-630
The reduction of oxygen was studied with online mass spectroscopy on 5
% Pt/Norit BRX and on 20% FePP(NO2)4/RB PTFE-bonded gas diffusion elec
trodes. The performance of the catalysts was analysed under conditions
of an acidic methanol/oxygen (air) fuel cell cathode in the presence
of methanol in solution. Following the mass signal m/e = 32 for oxygen
it can be shown that FePP(NO2)4 catalyses the oxygen reduction select
ively. In contrast, on the Pt-carbon catalyst methanol is oxidized to
CO2 (m/e = 44) thus establishing a mixed potential and an additional c
onsumption of methanol. Furthermore, it can be demonstrated that on a
platinum-carbon electrode the methanol oxidation is catalysed in the p
resence of oxygen, shifting the onset potential of CO2 production 100
mV more cathodic.