Structural Characterization of Ru-Modified Carbon-Supported Pt Nanoparticles Using Spontaneous Deposition with CO Oxidation Activity

The modification of carbon-supported Pt nanoparticles, high performance (HP) 20% Pt on Vulcan XC-72 carbon black (Pt/C electrocatalyst), by spontaneous deposition of Ru species is examined employing electrochemical and structural techniques. Thin-layer electrodes were prepared by applying aqueous catalyst inks of Pt/C on glassy carbon (GC) disks. Ru deposition was carried out by immersion of the prepared electrode in deaerated RuCl3/HClO4 solutions. The subsequent cyclic voltammetry experiments of the modified electrocatalysts (Ru(Pt)/C) were performed in 0.5 M H2SO4 to determine the Ru coverage and the electroactive surface. CO stripping voltammetry showed the promotional effect of Ru(Pt)/C for the CO oxidation compared to Pt/C. The structural characterization of the modified electrocatalysts was performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses, fast Fourier transform (FFT), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelect...