EFFECT OF METHOD OF PREPARATION ON THE CATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF TUNGSTEN CARBIDE

The catalytic activity of tungsten carbide for the oxidation of hydrogen in an acid medium has been investigated on sedimented powder electrodes. Specific activities were compared by taking current density values at a given potential in the straight line portion of Tafel curves. The real surface area of the electrodes was determined from capacitance measurements. It was shown that, depending on the starting material employed, the activity of the carbides varied by half an order of magnitude. This observation is discussed in terms of differences in surface properties. No effect on activity was observed when changing the carburization atmosphere from carbon monoxide to a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen or argon. © 1979.