Fundamental aspects of HCOOH oxidation at platinum single crystal surfaces with basal orientations and modified by irreversibly adsorbed adatoms

Abstract

Oxidation of formic acid at Pt(hkl) electrodes with basal orientations and modified by irreversibly adsorbed adatoms is revisited. It was shown that the adatoms of the nitrogen group enhance the electrocatalytic activity through long-range electronic effects in the case of Pt(111) substrates or through shorter third-body effects when adsorbed at Pt(100) electrodes. In both cases, it appears that free platinum sites were required. Special attention is given here to the reactivity at Pt(110) substrates. It is found that maximum electrocatalysis is observed at fully blocked surfaces. This result points out again structure sensitivity effects for this characteristic reaction. Unlike the more compact planes, in which the enhancement of the oxidation rate was explained through essentially rigid models for the adlayer, it is suggested that the resulting enhancement observed at Pt(110) substrates could be explained if some adatom mobility is considered.