Edge-Rich Pt-O-Ce Sites in CeO₂ Supported Patchy Atomic-Layer Pt Enable a Non-CO Pathway for Efficient Methanol...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Catalysis

Background:

• Methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) catalysts suffer from poisoning due to intermediate species.
• Developing catalysts that favor non-CO pathways is crucial for efficient MOR.
• Selective coupling of intermediates like *CHO and *OH remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a high-performance electrocatalyst for MOR that minimizes CO poisoning.
• To enhance the selective coupling of key intermediates (*CHO and *OH) via metal-support interactions.
• To investigate the mechanism of non-CO pathway promotion in a novel catalyst system.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of patchy atomic-layer platinum epitaxially grown on CeO2 nanocubes (Pt ALs/CeO2).
• Characterization of electronic metal-support interactions and intermediate adsorption sites.
• Electrochemical testing of MOR activity, selectivity, and CO poisoning resistance.

Main Results:

• The Pt ALs/CeO2 catalyst demonstrated enhanced electronic metal-support interaction.
• Optimal geometrical arrangement facilitated selective coupling of *CHO and *OH intermediates, promoting the non-CO pathway.
• The catalyst exhibited exceptional stability with negligible degradation under 1000s of CO poisoning.
• Achieved high mass activity of 14.87 A/mgPt, positioning it among the best alkali-stable MOR catalysts.

Conclusions:

• Patchy atomic-layer Pt on CeO2 nanocubes is a highly effective strategy for developing poison-resistant MOR electrocatalysts.
• The designed catalyst suppresses CO formation by promoting the non-CO pathway through optimized intermediate coupling.
• This work offers a promising avenue for advancing efficient and durable catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells.