Determination of the Methanol Decomposition Mechanism on a Polycrystalline Platinum Electrode

Authors: NİYAZİ ALPER TAPAN, JAI PRAKASH

Abstract: Direct 4-electron and single-electron transfer mechanisms are proposed for methanol decomposition. Kinetic models showed that the water-gas shift reaction was the rate determining step for both mechanisms at E = 0.392 V vs. RHE. Single-electron transfer is more likely to occur for methanol decomposition with a Tafel slope of 212.5 mV/dec, indicating that less than 1 electron transfer was the rate determining step for 0.3-0.6 V vs. RHE.

Keywords: Methanol, Decomposition, Tafel, E-transfer, Rate determining step

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