A high-throughput search for direct methanol fuel cell anode electrocatalysts of type PtxBiyPbz

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 254; no. 3; pp. 653 - 661
• Main Authors: JING JIN, PROCHASKA, Mark, ROCHEFORT, Dominic, KIM, David K, LIN ZHUANG, DISALVO, Francis J, VAN DOVER, R. B, ABRUNA, Héctor D
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Science 30.11.2007
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Materials science; New materials: theory, design, and fabrication; Other materials; Physics; Specific materials; 81.05.Zx; 82.47.-a; 82.47.Gh; Electrocatalysts; Combinatorial chemistry; Fluorescence; Lead compounds; XRD; Film growth; Thin films; Magnetrons; Cathode sputtering; Platinum compounds; Fuel cells; Bismuth compounds; Oxidation; Combinatorial chemistry; Fuel cell anode catalysts; Methanol
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2007.06.077

We used a high-throughput method to screen for direct methanol fuel cell anode electrocatalysts in the Pt-Bi-Pb system. Previous studies showed that PtBi and PtPb (both NiAs structure type) were active electrocatalysts for the oxidation of formic acid, but only PtPb was active in oxidizing methanol. We synthesized thin films with continuous composition spreads of the three elements by magnetron sputtering at deposition temperatures from ambient to 510 deg C. A fluorescence method was then used to identify compositions that were active toward methanol oxidation. Only films deposited between temperatures of 160 and 400 deg C showed electrocatalytic activity. The areas that were active for methanol oxidation showed predominantly the NiAs structure type according to XRD, with optimal activity for compositions near PtBi0.01Pb0.53.