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. Conflicts had occurred in the data for silicides incorporated on gold and gold-plated current collectors, but investigation during the current quarter indicates that the conflicts resulted from platinum contamination. The study also showed that TiSi2 exhibits some activity for hydrogen and methanol oxidation. The electrochemical behavior of WSi2 in acid electrolyte was studied and was found to be similar to that of MoSi2. Both of these materials have tetragonal structures. VSi2 and TaSi2 have similar electrochemical characteristics and both have hexagonal structures. Experiments with platinum- doped TiSi2 electrodes indicates that relatively large amounts of platinum are required to obtain a catalytic activity which approaches that of an equivalent platinum sheet and that the utilization of the platinum is low. However, gold- platinum co-deposits on TiSi2 exhibit markedly different behavior. The current obtained from the co-deposits as the ratio of gold to platinum was varied shows maxima at 50 and 70 weight percent of gold and a sharp minimum at 55 weight percent of gold. The maxima are higher than the levels of activity obtained with platinum alone.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0651194
Entities
People
- John R. Aylward
- Stanley W. Smith
Organizations
- Pratt & Whitney