Electro-oxidation of dimethyl ether on platinum nanocubes with preferential {1 0 0} surfaces

• Published in: Electrochemistry communications Vol. 11; no. 8; pp. 1596 - 1598
• Main Authors: Lu, Leilei, Yin, Geping, Wang, Zhenbo, Gao, Yunzhi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01-08-2009; Amsterdam Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Dimethyl ether; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cell; Fuel cells; Nanocrystals; Platinum; Dimethyl ether; Nanocrystals; Platinum; Fuel cell; Crystal orientation; Nanoparticle; Dispersed material; Methyl ether; Transition metal; Nanostructure; Carbon; Acidic solution; Sulfuric acid; Surface structure; Electrodes; Transmission electron microscopy; Morphology; Oxidation; Electrochemical reaction; Nanocrystal; Glassy state; Modified material
• ISSN: 1388-2481; 1873-1902
• DOI: 10.1016/j.elecom.2009.06.005

Platinum nanocubes with preferential {1
0
0} surfaces are synthesized by colloidal method and characterized by TEM image and hydrogen adsorption/desorption process. The mean diameter of Pt nanocubes is ca. 10.5
nm. The hydrogen adsorption/desorption wave shows clearly the <1
0
0> preferential orientation. It is proved that dimethyl ether oxidation on Pt nanocubes exhibits similar features with bulk Pt single crystal electrode. The catalytic activity of Pt nanocubes for DME electro-oxidation is nearly 3× higher than that on commercial available Pt black catalyst. After potential step to 1.2
V, the surfaces of Pt nanocubes are reconstructed and the activity for DME electro-oxidation decreases.