Adsorbed Intermediates in Oxygen Reduction on Platinum Nanoparticles Observed by In situ IR Spectroscopy.

Adsorbed Intermediates in Oxygen Reduction on Platinum Nanoparticles Observed by In situ IR Spectroscopy.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2018 Jul 12;:
Authors: Nayak S, McPherson IJ, Vincent KA
Abstract
The sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction to water remains a significant limitation in the viability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, yet details of the four electron oxygen reduction reaction remain elusive. Here we apply in situ infrared spectroscopy to probe surface chemistry of a commercial carbon-supported Pt nanoparticle catalyst during oxygen reduction. Infrared spectra show potential dependent appearance of adsorbed superoxide and hydroperoxide intermediates on Pt. This strongly supports an associative pathway for oxygen reduction. Analysis of the adsorbates alongside the catalytic current suggests that another pathway must also be in operation, consistent with a parallel dissociative pathway.
PMID: 30001472 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Angewandte Chemie - July 12, 2018 Category: Chemistry Authors: Nayak S, McPherson IJ, Vincent KA Tags: Angew Chem Int Ed Engl Source Type: research