An investigation of the electro catalytic properties of Pd-Ta (Substrate)‎ electrode

Abstract EN

Adatom electrodes of palladium on tantalum substrate were prepared by irreversible adsorption of palladium on tantalum at open circuit conditions in 1.0 M HCIO4 solution.

By calculation of the charge underneath the peaks for palladium adsorption and desorption, the coverage of palladium on tantalum substrate was estimated to be about one-fourth of a monolayer, Q=0.25.

The electrocatalytic properties of the Pd-Ta(substrate) adatom electrode are distinctively different from those of the tantalum plain electrode.

The catalytic properties of the Pd-Ta(substrate) electrode were tested for electrooxidation of a group of simple molecules comprising formic acid, formaldehyde, pyridine, methanol, ethylene glycol, carbon monoxide, chloroform, and hydrazine.

Among these molecules only carbon monoxide and hydrazine were found oxidizable at this electrode in 1.0 M HC104 solution.

Thus, in contrast with the inert tantalum electrode, the Pd(Ta-substrate) electrode showed an enhanced catalytic properties towards electrooxidation of carbon monoxide and hydrazine.

Analysis of the voltammetric parameters showed that oxidation of both compounds, is controlled by diffusion of hydrazine or carbon monoxide from the bulk to the electrode surface.