CO-Stripping at Ru Nanoparticles

Abstract

The paper reports synthesis and characterization of electrocatalyst composed of Ru nanoparticles (NPs). The catalysts were prepared by a polyol process and deposited on carbon (Vulcan XC72) support and employed PVP as a stabilizer. The as-prepared sample did not show any diffraction peaks, suggesting an amorphous structure, and was highly active for oxidation of CO. Heating of the catalyst in an inert atmosphere, however, resulted in the crystallization of the particles. The heat treatment resulted in significant drops in the electrocatalytic activity, tentatively ascribed to carbonaceous deposits at the catalyst surface. The results demonstrate that stabilisers such as PVP will not pose a significant hindrance for low-temperature electrochemical reactions at these catalysts.