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PtRu Alloy Colloids as Precursors for Fuel Cell Catalysts: A Combined XPS, AFM, HRTEM, and RDE Study
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1998
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Materials ScienceChemical EngineeringCatalytic MaterialEngineeringBimetallic ColloidsElectrode-electrolyte InterfaceSurface ElectrochemistrySingle-atom CatalystCatalysisPtru Colloid CatalystChemistryCatalyst PreparationElectrocatalytic ActivityElectrochemical ProcessPtru Alloy ColloidsElectrochemistryCombined Xps
The electrocatalytic activity of bimetallic colloids supported on Vulcan XC72 toward the oxidation of CO and mixtures was investigated by using a newly developed method to characterize supported catalysts in a rotating disk electrode configuration. Prior to the electrochemical measurements, the surfactant was removed by reactive annealing. Parallel atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements on a planar model system [ on highly oriented pyrolitic graphite] indicate minor sintering in good agreement with high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) measurements on the Vulcan‐supported catalyst which yield a dispersion of ∼43%. At 60 °C, the electrochemical activity of the PtRu colloid catalyst toward the oxidation of 2% CO in is equal to or slightly higher than that of a commercial PtRu catalyst (E‐TEK). Comparison of the CO tolerance of the PtRu‐colloid/Vulcan with that of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells was facilitated on the basis of mass‐specific current densities, providing a scale‐up method for predicting the performance of catalysts in a PEM fuel cell.