Estudio de catalizadores basados en platino para la reacción de PROX: influencia de los depósitos de carbono.

Abstract

In the Hydrogen technology, the preferential oxidation of CO in excess of hydrogen (PrOx reaction) is an important process for obtaining CO-free hydrogen for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). PtCu based catalysts are one of the most studied systems for mobile devices because of their high activity/selectivity balance and their appropriate chemical and mechanical properties for the start-up/shut-down procedures during fuel processors operation conditions. Recently, the use of Pt-Cu bimetallic catalysts with excellent activity and selectivity towards CO oxidation was reported for PrOx reaction. However, there are not clear evidences off the nature of the active phases and the role of both metals during the reaction. To understand this system it is necessary to create a model catalyst which facilitates the study. Thus, well-defined Pt-Cu bimetallic alloy nanoparticles were synthetized and studied by Operando techniques allowing the comprehension of the surface electronic modifications in the solid-gas interface of the above mentioned model catalyst under PrOx reaction conditions. In this work, the composition and nature of the species present on the catalyst surface upon well-controlled reaction conditions were studied, in particular from the point of view of surface dynamics, structural transitions and the possible effects of reaction atmosphere and adsorbed overlayers on the surface composition and structure of the alloy.