Platinum-based electrocatalysts for generation of hydrogen peroxide in aqueous acidic electrolytes: Rotating ring-disk studies

• Published in: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Vol. 150; no. 1; pp. E39 - E46
• Main Authors: YIBO MO, SCHERSON, Daniel A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pennington, NJ Electrochemical Society 2003
• Subjects: Chemistry; Electrochemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Kinetics and mechanism of reactions; Kinetic control; Oxygen; Catalytic reaction; Catalyst selectivity; Transition metal; Experimental study; Acidic solution; Chemical reduction; Cyclic voltammetry; Electrocatalysis; Platinum; Electrode reaction; Crystal electrode; Aqueous solution; Electrochemical reaction; Catalyst activity; Modified material
• ISSN: 0013-4651; 1945-7111
• DOI: 10.1149/1.1525270

The electrocatalytic activity of selenium-, and sulfur-modified polycrystalline Pt electrodes for O sub 2 reduction in acid media has been examined using rotating ring-disk electrode techniques. The results obtained indicated that, within a rather narrow range of coverages, both Se-, and S-modified Pt surfaces promote O sub 2 reduction via a two-electron pathway to yield hydrogen peroxide at close to 100% faradaic efficiency over a wide potential region. Also presented in this work is an experimental procedure for Se-modification of high area, unsupported Pt particles based on fluidized packed bed reactor principles. Such a strategy could be readily scaled up opening new prospects for the development of large scale hydrogen peroxide generation in acid media, including electrochemically based, room temperature, Nation-based oxygen concentrators.