Jul. 14, 2014. Holl 4-112 in Chemistry Building.

Seminar Title: Electronic and Surface Effects in the Electrochemical Oxidation of
               Alcohols on Pt-Based Bimetallic Catalysts
Prof. Hebe de las Mercedes Villullas (São Paulo State University, Brazil)

Abstract:

  While there is consensus about PtRu and PtSn being the most efficient catalysts for methanol and ethanol oxidation, respectively, the reasons for the different performances of materials prepared by different methods, as well as the role of oxides and alloys, are not fully understood. At the same time, properties are in some cases interdependent, making more difficult to gain a better understanding of their influence on catalytic activities and reaction mechanisms. Studies of the distribution of reaction and the evaluation of the Pt 5d band vacancy by in situ XAS measurements performed around the Pt L3 edge were combined aiming to unravel the influence of electronic properties on the mechanisms methanol and ethanol oxidation on carbon-supported Pt-based catalysts. Results for methanol oxidation on PtRu materials and for ethanol oxidation on PtSn-based catalysts will be presented.