On the effect of tungsten on CO oxidation at Pt electrodes

The co-catalytic effect of W on the oxidation of CO and methanol is investigated by using differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS). DEMS reveals that CO oxidation starts at 120 mV, overlapping with W oxidation. The action of W consists in shifting the pre-peak from 450 mV (as observed on pure Pt) to 200 mV. In this shifted pre-peak only 2% of the total adsorbed CO is oxidized independently from the W coverage, as compared to 10% on pure Pt. A correlation between the surface coverage of W as determined by XPS with the W oxidation peak charge in cyclic voltammetry suggests that the oxidation is a six-electron process.Dedicated to Prof. Wolf Vielstich on the occasion of his 80th birthday in recognition of his numerous contributions to interfacial electrochemistry.