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Elucidation of the Oxygen Reduction Volcano in Alkaline Media using a Copper–Platinum(111) Alloy
Author(s) -
Jensen Kim D.,
Tymoczko Jakub,
Rossmeisl Jan,
Bandarenka Aliaksandr S.,
Chorkendorff Ib,
EscuderoEscribano María,
Stephens Ifan E. L.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201711858
Subject(s) - chemistry , catalysis , platinum , reactivity (psychology) , copper , alloy , inorganic chemistry , oxygen , hydrogen , alkali metal , organic chemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
The relationship between the binding of the reaction intermediates and oxygen reduction activity in alkaline media was experimentally explored. By introducing Cu into the 2nd surface layer of a Pt(111) single crystal, the surface reactivity was tuned. In both 0.1 m NaOH and 0.1 m KOH, the optimal catalyst should exhibit OH binding circa 0.1 eV weaker than Pt(111), via a Sabatier volcano; this observation suggests that the reaction is mediated via the same surface bound intermediates as in acid, in contrast to previous reports. In 0.1 m KOH, the alloy catalyst at the peak of the volcano exhibits a maximum activity of 101±8 mA cm −2 at 0.9 V vs. a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). This activity constitutes a circa 60‐fold increase over Pt(111) in 0.1 m HClO 4 .