Reductive-heat-treated platinum tungsten oxide catalyst with improved CO oxidation activity and CO gas sensing property

In this report, a reductive-heat-treated platinum tungsten oxide catalyst was prepared to improve the CO electro-oxidation activity and employed in the electrochemical sensor. Tungsten oxide was proved to be an effective co-catalyst for CO sensing and the strong interaction between platinum and tungsten oxide has been enhanced by the reductive heat treatment. As a result, the significant negative shift of CO oxidation potential was confirmed by an electrochemical characterization. Further, the sensing performance of the as-prepared catalyst was investigated by means of the portable CO sensor device, which showed higher sensitivity, faster response time and good linearity within 50 ppm CO.