Electrochemical Detection of Methanol Dissociative Adsorption at Pt/C Surface by Using Porous-Microelectrodes

Abstract

The methanol dissociative adsorption at a Pt-loading carbon (Pt/C) electrocatalyst for direct methanol fuel cell has been investigated by electrochemical measurements using a porous microelectrode (PME) and porous/disk-dual microelectrode (P/D-ME). The proton elimination reaction based on the methanol dissociative adsorption during the primary process of the methanol electrooxidation on a Pt/C surface, especially at Pt(100), has been observed by PME measurements. Furthermore, by using the P/D-ME, we have succeeded for the first time in the electrochemical detection of protons dissociated from methanol molecules into the bulk solution due to the above reaction.