Catalytic Oxidation of Methanol by Ruthenium Oxides

Abstract

The electrocatalytic behaviour of carbon-supported ruthenium oxide electrodes for oxygen evolution and methanol oxidation in acid solutions is reported. Physical characterization of the electrodes by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron and ⁹⁹Ru Mossbauer spectroscopies indicated the ruthenium to be present as a mixture of Ru^IV oxides including the stable rutile phase. Electrochemical studies show that a Ru^VI species promotes the catalytic oxidation of methanol, whilst surface-bound RuO₄ is involved in the oxygen evolution reaction.