INVESTIGATION OF MECHANISMS FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CATALYSIS
Abstract
A program is being conducted to investigate the mechanisms of electrocatalysis with respect to the anodic oxidation of selected fuels by novel electrocatalysts in acid electrolyte at temperatures below 150C and at ambient pressure. Most of the effort is on select transition metal silicides surface- doped with trace amounts of platinum and/or gold. Some additional materials (transition metal borides) were screened for use as possible electrocatalysts. The electrochemical behavior of TaSi2 in acid electrolyte was studied by measuring the polarization via triangular potential sweep and steady-state methods. The catalytic activity of TiSi2 and MoSi2 surface-doped with platinum and gold by various techniques was investigated. None of the new materials screened showed sufficient corrosion resistance in acid for use as catalysts or supports. TaSi2 in the absence of fuel gave a relatively high cathodic current in the potential range from zero to 200 mV which is difficult to explain on the basis of known reactions. MoSi2 was not amenable to surface-doping but this technique applied to TiSi2 gave promising catalytic activity for the oxidation of hydrogen. Platinum and gold deposited simultaneously in trace amounts on TiSi2, resulted in higher catalytic activity for hydrogen oxidation than the deposition of platinum alone or gold deposition followed by platinum deposition.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0647788
Entities
People
- John R. Aylward
- Stanley W. Smith
Organizations
- Pratt & Whitney