Improved electrocatalytic activity of Pt on carbon nanofibers for glucose oxidation mediated by support oxygen groups in Pt perimeter

Support effects in supported metal catalysts are well studied for thermocatalytic reactions, but less studied for electrocatalytic reactions. Here, we prepared a series of Pt supported on carbon nanofiber catalysts which vary in their Pt particle size and the content of oxygen groups on the surface of the CNF. We show that the activity of these catalysts for electrocatalytic glucose oxidation relates linearly with the content of support oxygen groups. Since the electronic state of Pt (XAS) and Pt surface structure (CO-stripping) were indistinguishable for all materials, we conclude that sorption effects of glucose play a crucial role in catalytic activity. This was further confirmed by establishing a relation between the annulus of the Pt particles and the activity.