Insights into the effects of Pt and PtOx site for electrocatalytic water gas shift reaction via altering supports and calcinated temperatures

Abstract

Electrocatalytic water-gas shift reaction (EWGSR) at room temperature and atmospheric pressure is an emerging process for high-pure hydrogen production without an additional H2 separation procedure. Therefore, developing efficient electrocatalysts of EWGSR is one of the critical factors for its wide applications. Herein, the effects of support and calcinated temperature on the EWGSR performance are highlighted by systematically investigating the Pt/γ-Fe2O3, Pt/CeO2, Pt/TiO2, and Pt/α-Fe2O3 catalysts. The results reveal that the γ-Fe2O3 supported Pt catalyst (calcined at 400 °C) exhibits the lowest anodic onset potential and the highest activity compared to these prepared catalysts, and the mass activity is 3.5 times as high as 20% Pt/C. Furthermore, the onset potential for the EWGSR shows a strong correlation with the active O in the amorphous PtOx structures, where the active O atoms can promote the activation of the OH− and reduce the onset potential of the reaction. The significantly enhanced catalytic performance and durability are more responsible for the exposed Pt0 and the weak adsorption of CO on the Pt/γ-Fe2O3 catalyst. This study provides a new and promising route for designing excellent Pt catalysts for EWGSR in the hope that it can be helpful to the scholars in this orientation.