Electrooxidation of 2-propanol at sputtered pt based metal electrodes

Abstract

This work focuses on the effect of sputter-deposited Pt alloys upon 2-propanol oxidation. Platinum based bimetallic, i.e., Pt-Ru, Pt-W, Pt-Sn, and Pt-Mo, and trimetallic, i.e., Pt- Ru-W, Pt-Ru-Sn, Pt-Ru-Au, and Pt-W-Au, electrodes were deposited on Si, Au, and Pt substrates. The activity was evaluated with linear voltammetry and potential step methods at room temperature and atmospheric conditions. Among the bimetallic compositions, the maximum current density of Pt-W was about twice that of Pt-Ru. Other bimetallic composition was inferior to Pt-Ru at the investigated conditions. Among the tested materials, the trimetallic composition of Pt-Ru-W showed the highest current density and lowest onset potential for 2-propanol oxidation. The Au species also showed catalytic activity for 2-propanol oxidation.