Rotating disk slurry electrodeposition of platinum at Y-zeolite/carbon Vulcan XC-72R for methanol oxidation in alkaline media

Abstract

Platinum was electrodeposited onto Y-zeolite and Y-zeolite (Y)/Vulcan XC-72R (V) to produce Pt/Y/V and Pt/Y catalysts using a rotating disk slurry electrode technique. The activities of the two catalysts were measured towards methanol electro-oxidation in alkaline media by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The materials were examined using electron microscopy. The results were compared to those obtained on commercial catalysts. Pt/Y/V (with 14 wt% Pt) catalyst was the most active, even more so than a commercial Pt/V catalyst with 20 wt% Pt. The Pt/Y/V catalysts contained Pt nanoparticles and tetrahedra, likely a consequence of the nucleation and growth within the zeolite framework.