Electro‐oxidation of Carbon Monoxide and Methanol on Carbon‐Supported Pt–Sn Nanoparticles: a DEMS Study

Abstract

Abstract A comparative study between carbon supported Platinum–Tin (Pt–Sn syn ), synthesized via the carbonyl route, and the commercial (Pt 3 Sn) from E–TEK is reported. The electro‐oxidation of methanol and adsorbed CO, in sulphuric acid medium, were used as probes to evaluate the performance of these electrocatalysts. In‐line differential mass spectrometry (DEMS) was used for this purpose. Both nanoparticulate materials had a mean particle size of < d > = 1.68 ± 0.72 nm, and < d > = 3.58 ± 1.94 nm, respectively. It is demonstrated that, under the same experimental conditions, our homemade Pt–Sn syn is less sensitive to poisoning by CO. This observation was again verified during the oxidation of methanol. These results are discussed in terms of the local disorder of the particles surface atoms, favourably induced by size effect and the preparation route employed.