Two Types of Platinum Dissolution in Acid Media: An Electrochemical Nanogravimetric Study

Abstract

Smooth and platinized platinum electrodes in contact with sulfuric acid solutions were studied using electrochemical quartz crystal nanobalance (EQCN) technique at different temperatures. Two types of dissolution processes have been observed. A platinum loss was detected during the reduction of platinum oxide, the extent of which depends on the positive potential limit and the scan rate, and to a lesser extent on the temperature. The platinum dissolution during the electroreduction of oxide is related to the interfacial place exchange of the oxygen and platinum atoms in the oxide region. At elevated temperatures two competitive processes take place at high positive potentials: a dissolution of platinum and platinum oxide formation. These phenomena are of importance regarding the long-term stability of proton exchange fuel cells.