COMPARISON OF METHANOL OXIDATIONS ON PT, PT-VERTICAL-BAR-RU AND PT-VERTICAL-BAR-SN ELECTRODES

Electrochemical oxidations of methanol were compared on smooth or high area platinum, platinum\tin and platinum\ruthenium electrodes. On smo oth platinum, while ruthenium promoted the catalytic activities steadi ly according to the coverage, tin showed an enhancing effect only for a short period of time because of the dissolution of tin from the surf ace. On high area platinum, tin seemed much stabler and exhibited long -lasting enhancing effects as well as ruthenium. The reasons for the i nconsistent effects of tin among past studies are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.