Surfactant effects on methanol oxidation at Pt–Ru/C coated glassy carbon electrode

Abstract

The role of surfactants, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and Triton X-100 (in the catalyst), on methanol oxidation at commercial 50:50 Pt–Ru/C catalyst-coated glassy carbon has been studied using cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Surfactant containing catalysts showed a considerable reduction in the methanol oxidation potential. In terms of oxidation potential, better results (lower methanol oxidation potential) were observed in the order SDS > Triton X-100 > CTAB > no surfactant. SEM studies on the catalyst ink showed better homogeneity in the sample prepared using surfactant. This indicates better Pt Pt contact, which is likely to favour methanol adsorption and its oxidation. Hence, lowering of oxidation potentials for methanol oxidation could be seen with use of surfactants. Results of FT-IR on the catalyst ink showed definite changes in the frequencies in the case of Pt–Ru/C containing surfactants indicating definite interaction between catalyst and surfactant. Catalysts, with and without surfactants, yielded linear plots of concentration vs peak currents for methanol oxidation (0–2 M). With surfactant containing catalysts, reduction in methanol oxidation current was observed, and the order followed was the reverse of the above.