CO oxidation at platinum-molybdenum electrodes

CO oxidation at Pt-Mo electrodes prepared by different procedures is studied. When CO is oxidized from its saturated solutions at Mo-containing electrodes, catalysis is observed at lower potentials (<0.4 V (RHE)); inhibiting, at higher potentials (>0.7 V). When adsorbed CO is oxidized in supporting electrolyte, no oxidation current is observed at lower potentials; the current observed on platinum at higher potentials (>0.7 V) is also lowered in the presence of molybdenum. Depending on the preparation procedure, catalysts with different phase structure were obtained, namely, as the Pt and Mo separate phases, alloys with the platinum-type crystal lattice, or mixed amorphous deposits. The catalyst phase structure did not affect the general picture of observed processes; however, it had influence on the magnitude of the catalytic and inhibiting effects. The presence of crystallinity made the catalyst more stable against oxidation. Amorphous structures were unstable during the potential cycling and the catalyst storage.