Abstract
The reactions of C1 through C4 hydrocarbons, both saturated and unsaturated, on platinum‐black fuel cell anodes have been followed with the aid of volumetric and galvanostatic techniques. Gas chromatography has been employed to provide supplementary information. Both acidic and alkaline electrolytes have been included in the studies. The hydrocarbons fall into three groups with regard to surface coverage with Cn species: low for methane, intermediate for saturated hydrocarbons, and high for unsaturates (including cyclopropane). Cracking, polymerization, and self‐hydrogenation are among the reactions occurring on fuel electrodes; evidence is presented for the formation of C1, C2, C3, and C4 species on electrodes equilibrated with ethylene. Significant amounts of species as high as C6 are formed from propylene and cyclopropane. The oxidation of the adsorbed carbonaceous species from all of the hydrocarbons requires high overvoltages which can be reduced by raising the temperature.