Effect of Bi and Sn adatoms on formic acid and methanol oxidation at well defined platinum surfaces

Abstract

The effect of adsorbing submonolayers of bismuth and tin onto single-crystal, polycrystalline and dispersed platinum electrodes on the oxidation of formic acid and methanol was investigated. While the oxidation of formic acid on Pt(111) was found to be enhanced by adsorbed sub-monolayers of bismuth, the oxidation of methanol was inhibited by all adsorbed coverages of both tin and bismuth on all electrodes. The adsorbed tin was found to be more stable on the dispersed Pt electrodes than on the smooth electrodes.