Platinum-tin alloy electrodes for direct methanol fuel cells

Pt electrodes, modified by partial electrodeposited tin, were used as anode s for the catalytic electrooxidation of methanol in acid medium. Sn was ele ctrodeposited galvanostatically and potentiostatically. Cyclic voltammetry was used to study the methanol electrooxidation. Pt modified with Sn proved superior to pure platinum as shown from the methanol peak current densitie s. Sn also improved the performance regarding the stability of the anode ov er repeated cycles. It was found that electrodeposited Sn facilitates the o xidation of intermediate poison products through a mixed homogeneous-hetero geneous catalytic mechanism.