There is a growing interest in alcohol oxidation electrochemistry due to its role in renewable energy technologies. The goal of this work is to develop active non- precious metal electrocatalysts based on the Mo-V-O lattice. Selective gaseous alkane oxidation has been observed at elevated temperatures above 300 0C on these catalysts. In this study the activity of the catalysts at ambient temperatures or at lower temperatures (25-60 0C) was investigated. The key issues for the observed catalytic activity are related to the crystal structure of the catalyst, the elemental composition, and the oxidation states of each element. The effects of the composition on the surface acid-base properties, and the redox properties involving the lattice oxide ions in the reaction are investigated. Hydrothermal conditions are used to synthesize MoV(M)O mixed oxides where M is Nb or Te. Physical characterization of the catalysts was 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 alcohols such as, cyclohexanol, butanol, propanol, ethanol, and methanol is studied electrochemically. Chronoamperometric studies are used to evaluate the long term performance of the catalysts. The onset of alcohol oxidative current is observed between 0.5 V to 0.7 V vs Ag/AgCl with an oxidative peak current at 0.8 V. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis is used to determine the nature of the oxidative products. The mild oxidation products such as the alkene or the aldehyde are observed after oxidation at 60 0C but not at room temperature. Mo-V-O based electrocatalysts efficiently catalyze the oxidation of alcohols at low temperatures.

Mo-V-O based electrocatalysts for low temperature alcohol oxidation

246th National Meeting (2013)

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