Electrochemical preparation of nanostructured CeO2-Pt catalysts on Fe-Cr-Al alloy foams for the low-temperature combustion of methanol

Pt-based structured catalysts for the low-temperature combustion of methanol have been prepared by electrochemical methods, using Fe-Cr-Al alloy (Fecralloy) foam supports. Among the strategies investigated, pulsed electrodeposition of Pt nanoparticles from an H2PtCl6solution, followed by cathodic electrodeposition of CeO2thin films from a nitrate bath was the most successful. Pt loading and surface area were measured by ICP-MS and cyclic voltammetry, respectively. Although the presence of a CeO2film decreased the Pt surface area accessible to electrolyte it enhanced the performance of the catalysts towards methanol combustion, without affecting the activation energy of the process, due to the formation of additional active sites along the interface of CeO2-coated Pt nanoparticles.