Promoted CO oxidation activity in the presence and absence of hydrogen over the TiO2-supported Pt/Co-B bicomponent catalyst

▶ This work is based on the viewpoint that increasing the surface electron density of Pt can promote the oxidation of CO over the bimetallic Pt/Co/TiO2 catalyst. ▶ An amorphous CoB alloy instead of Co or CoOx was firstly introduced into Pt/TiO2 catalyst. The electron donation by B to Co atoms in CoB can keep a high surface electron density of Pt in Pt/Co-B/TiO2 via inhibiting the electron transfer from Pt to Co atoms. Thus, a higher activity of oxidizing CO and a higher preferential oxidation of CO in the presence of H2 is obtained. ▶ This work implies that any way to increase the surface electron density of Pt in Pt/Co/TiO2 (such as electrochemical, photochemical method) maybe also promotes the oxidation of CO over the bimetallic Pt/Co/TiO2. ▶ This work maybe develops a new approach to prepare a novel catalyst of selectively oxidizing CO for a prospective of purifying H2 steam in fuel cell systems.