IHTM PLAVI
University of Belgrade
Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy
National Institute of the Republic of Serbia

grb BUUniversity of Belgrade

1796 ELECTROCATALYSIS ON NANOPARTICLES: FROM MODEL SYSTEM TO SUPPORTED CATALYSTS

Ministry of Science

Project type:

Basic Research

Duration:

2001-2005

Project Coordinator:

ICTM -  Department of Electrochemistry, University of Belgrade

Participants:

  • ICTM - Department of Electrochemistry, University of Belgrade;
  • Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade;
  • Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade

Project Manager:

Dr Amalija Tripković, ICTM-Department of Electrochemistry, University of Belgrade

Number of Researchers:

15

Aim and Scope:

Subject of the research is formation of the nanocatalysts by deposition of metals on Au and Pt monocrystals (model systems) and on high-area supporting materials (supported catalysts). Electrochemical, spectroscopic and microscopic techniques were applied for the characterization of the catalysts. Their electrocatalytic properties with respect to the reaction applied in the fuel cells methanol/oxygen and hydrogen/oxygen (methanol oxidation, hydrogen oxidation, oxygen reduction) as well as electrochemical reaction of other organic molecules are examined. The activity of the supported catalysts and the model systems were correlated.

The goal of the research was to obtain parameters relevant to the optimization of the catalysts that can be used as a basis for the synthesis of the commercial catalysts applied in methanol/oxygen and hydrogen/oxygen fuel cells, electroorganic synthesis and for the waste water treatment. Data acquired in the study increases the progress in the understanding of kinetic and mechanisms of the reactions and their structure sensitivity.

Major Resultsi:

The results of the research contribute to the understanding of electrocatalysis, kinetics and mechanisms of hydrogen and some organic molecules (methanol, formaledehyde, formic acid and glucose) and oxygen reduction on the nanocatalysts. Application of traditional electrochemical methods along with modern techniques for surface characterization (STM, AFM, TEM, XPS, LEIS, etc.) enable to correlate nature, particle size and structure of the catalyst with their catalytic activity.

The results of the investigations in this project enable the selection the most promising electrocatalysts for the further testing in the fuel cell prototypes.

Selected publications:

  1. A.V. Tripković, K.Đ. Popović, J.D. Lović, "The influence of the oxygen-containing species on the electrooxidation of the C1 – C4 alcohols at some platinum single crystal surfaces in alkaline solution", Electrochimica Acta, 46 (2001) 3163-3173.
  2. A. Dekanski, J. Stevanović, R. Stevanović, B.Ž. Nikolić, V.M. Jovanović: ²Glassy Carbon – Electrochemical Characterisation², Carbon, 39 (2001) 1195-1205.
  3. A.V. Tripković, K.Đ. Popović, B.N. Grgur, B. Blizanac, P.N. Ross, N.M. Marković, “Methanol electrooxidation on supported Pt and Pt-Ru catalysts in acid and alkaline aolutions”, Electrochimica Acta, 47 (2002) 3707-3714.
  4. A.V. Tripković, S. Štrbac, K.Đ. Popović, “Effect of temperature on the methanol oxidation at supported Pt and PtRu catalysts in alkaline solution”, Electrochemistry Communications, 5 (2003) 484-490.
  5. M.D. Obradović, B.N. Grgur, Lj.M. Vračar, "Adsorption of oxygen containing species and their effect on oxygen reduction on Pt3Co electrode", Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 548 (2003) 69-78.
  6. S.Lj. Gojković, T.R. Vidaković, D.R. Đurović, "Kinetic study of methanol oxidation on carbon-supported PtRu electrocatalyst", Electrochimica Acta, 48 (2003) 3607-3614.
  7. V.M. Jovanović, S. Terzić, A.V. Tripković, K.Đ. Popović, J.D. Lović, "The effect of electrochemically treated glassy carbon on the activity of supported Pt catalyst in methanol oxidation", Electrochemistry Communications, 6 (2004) 1254-1258.
  8. A.V. Tripković, K.Đ. Popović, J.D. Lović, V.M. Jovanović, A. Kowal, "Methanol oxidation at platinum electrodes in alkaline solution: comparison between supported catalysts and model system", Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 572 (2004) 119.
  9. S.Lj. Gojković, "Mass transfer effect in electrochemical oxidation of methanol at platinum electrocatalysts", Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 573 (2004) 271-276.
  10. J.D. Lović, A.V. Tripković, S.Lj. Gojković, K.Đ. Popović, D.V. Tripković, P. Olszewski, A. Kowal, "Kinetic study of formic acid oxidation at carbon-supported platinum electrocatalyst", Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 581 (2005) 294-302.

Contacts:

Dr Amalija Tripković, ICTM-Department of Electrochemistry, 11000 Beograd, Njegoševa 12
E-mail: amalija@tmf.bg.ac.rs