Electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol: Study with Pt : Mo dispersed catalysts

The electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on Pt:Mo dispersed on carbon pre pared using an alternative method recently developed in this laboratory was investigated. The EDX analysis confirmed that the simultaneous reduction o f the precursor salts of Pt and Mo leads to the presence of these materials at the nominal composition initially calculated. The addition of Mo to Pt causes an increase of the oxidation currents, but does not improve the cata lytic effect for methanol oxidation. Tafel plots for various methanol conce ntrations showed the presence of two slopes. On line differential electroch emical mass spectrometry (DEMS) was used to investigate the distribution of products and intermediates in methanol oxidation.