In this review we selectively summarize recent progress, primarily from our laboratory, in the development of interrelationships between the kinetics of the fuel cells reactions and the structure/composition of anode catalysts.The focus is placed on two types of metallic surfaces: platinum single crystals and bimetallic surfaces based on Pt.In the first part it was illustrated that the hydcogen reaction is structure sensitive process, here with Pt(110) being an order of magnitude more active than either of the atomically "flatter" (100) and (111) surfaces.The hydrogen reaction on Pt(hkl) modified by pseudomorphic Pd (sub)monolayers shows the "volcano-like" behavior, having the maximum rate on Pt(111) modified by 1 ML of Pd.
The Pt(111)-Pd system is used to demonstrate how the energetics of intermediates formed in the hydrogen reaction is affected by interfacial bonding and energetic constraints produced between pseudomorphic Pd films and the Pt(111) substrate.In the second part it was shown that the oxidation of Ha in the presence of CO occurs concurrently with CO read more oxidation on Pt and Pt bimetallic surfaces.The Pt-Ru system is used to demonstrate that both the bifunctional effect and the ligand effect contribute to the influence of Ru on the CO oxidation rate and for Hz oxidation process in the presence of CO.The knowledge is then used to create the real-life catalyst with the catalytic activities which are, to the greatest extend possible similar to the tailor-made surface.