In-situ FTIR and XANES spectroscopy of fuel cell electrodes

COLL 431

Eugene S. Smotkin, Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, PO Box 23346, San Juan, PR 00931-3346
The anode catalytic layers of fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies incorporating PtRu and pure Ru are subjected to FTIR specular reflectance spectroscopy. Adsorbed CO is observed on both Pt and Ru on the mixed metal catalyst. The potential dependent FTIR of adsorbed CO on pure Ru gives rise to a stark tuning line with a clear break in slope at potential where methanol oxidation becomes facile on PtRu electrodes. This data is aggregated with XANES and isotope studies to yield a more complete understanding of the role of Pt and Ru in the bifunctional electrooxidation of methanol.