On-line mass spectrometry of the electro-oxidation of methanol in acidic media on tungsten carbide

The electro-oxidation of methanol at supported tungsten carbide (WC) nanoparticles in sulfuric acid solution was studied using cyclic voltammetry, potentiostatic measurements, and differential electrochemical mass spectroscopy (DEMS). The catalyst was prepared by a sonochemical method and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Over the WC catalyst, the oxidation of methanol (1 M in a sulfuric acid electrolyte) begins at a potential below 0.5 V/RHE during the anodic sweep. During potentiostatic measurements, a maximum current of 0.8 mA mg−1 was obtained at 0.4 V. Measurements of DEMS showed that the methanol oxidation reaction over tungsten carbide produces CO2 (m/z = 44); no methylformate (m/z = 60) was detected. These results are discussed in the context of the continued search for alternative materials for the anode catalyst of direct methanol fuel cells.