jp5b03010_si_001.pdf (1.06 MB)
Mo-V‑O Based Electrocatalysts for Low Temperature Alcohol Oxidation
journal contribution
posted on 2015-05-27, 00:00 authored by Adele
L. Pacquette, David S. Oh, Andrew A. GewirthThere
is a growing interest in alcohol oxidation electrochemistry
due to its role in renewable energy technologies. The goal of this
work was to develop active non- precious metal electrocatalysts based
on the Mo-V-(M)-O (M is Nb, Te) lattice. Selective gaseous alkane
oxidation had been previously observed on these catalysts at elevated
temperatures above 300 °C. In this study, the activity of the
catalysts at lower temperatures, 25–60 °C, was investigated.
Hydrothermal conditions were used to synthesize the Mo-V-(M)-O mixed
oxides. Physical characterization of the catalysts were obtained by
powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron micrography (SEM)
equipped with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), transmission electron
micrography (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The
catalytic activity for the oxidation of cyclohexanol was studied electrochemically.
Chronoamperometric studies were used to evaluate the long-term performance
of the catalysts. The onset of alcohol oxidative current was observed
between 0.2 and 0.6 V versus Ag/AgCl. Gas chromatography–mass
spectrometry analysis was used to determine the nature of the oxidative
products. The mild oxidation products, cyclohexanone and cyclohexene,
were observed after oxidation at 60 °C. The catalytic activity
increased in the order Mo-V-O < Mo-V-Te-O < Mo-V-Te-Nb-O. Mo-V-(Te,Nb)-O
based electrocatalysts efficiently catalyzed the oxidation of alcohols
at low temperatures.