Electrochemical synthesis of Fe–Mo and Fe–Mo–Pt alloys and their electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation

Electroplating of Fe–Mo and Fe–Mo–Pt alloys has been carried out using suitable plating bath solutions and working conditions. The deposits were characterized by SEM, XRD, TEM, EDAX, XPS and Polarization techniques. New phases appeared on heat treatment of the coatings. The composition (Fe–Mo) of the coatings and oxidation states of the alloying elements varied from the surface to the bulk of the material. The coatings acted as novel electrode materials with good electrocatalytic activities (low overpotentials) and good corrosion resistance for the anodic oxidation of methanol in H2SO4 at normal working temperature. The good corrosion resistance of the Fe–Mo alloy is accounted for by the existence of an oxyhydroxide passive film on the surface. The electrocatalytic activity of the Fe–Mo–Pt alloy is considerably higher when compared to the Fe–Mo alloy and Fe alone