Abstract: Modification of conventional Pt/C electrocatalyst with silicomolybdic acid (SiMoA) was performed using electrochemical cyclic voltammetry method. The modified and unmodified catalysts were tested under identical conditions for the electrooxidation of CO, methanol, and ethanol. In the CO stripping experiments, the modified catalyst was characterized by significant shifts (80 and 60 mV) to lower onset potential and peak potentials for CO electrooxidation, suggesting better CO tolerant property of the modified catalyst. In the electrooxidation of methanol and ethanol, the modified catalyst was featured by significantly increased current densities due to reduced residence time of the reaction intermediates, showing significantly higher electrocatalytic activity for electrooxidation of alcohols.

Key words: PEMFCs(proton exchange membrane fuel cells), CO tolerance catalysts, Silicomolybdic acid, Alcohols electrooxidation, CO electooxidation