Co-catalytic effect of Ni in the methanol electro-oxidation on Pt–Ru/C catalyst for direct methanol fuel cell

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 51; no. 26; pp. 5691 - 5697
• Main Authors: Wang, Z.B., Yin, G.P., Zhang, J., Sun, Y.C., Shi, P.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 15.08.2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Direct methanol fuel cell; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Methanol electro-oxidation; Pt–Ru/C catalyst; Pt–Ru–Ni/C catalyst; Direct methanol fuel cell; Methanol electro-oxidation; Pt–Ru–Ni/C catalyst; Pt–Ru/C catalyst; Performance evaluation; Catalytic reaction; Pt-Ru-Ni/C catalyst; Ruthenium; Electrocatalysts; Alcohol fuel cells; Metal particle; Supported catalyst; Pt-Ru/C catalyst; Platinum; Energetic efficiency; Activated carbon; Oxidative degradation; Nickel; Catalyst activity
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2006.03.002

This research is aimed to improve the utilization and activity of anodic catalysts, thus to lower the contents of noble metals loading in anodes for methanol electro-oxidation. The direct methanol fuel cell anodic catalysts, Pt–Ru–Ni/C and Pt–Ru/C, were prepared by chemical reduction method. Their performances were tested by using a glassy carbon working electrode through cyclic voltammetric curves, chronoamperometric curves and half-cell measurement in a solution of 0.5 mol/L CH 3OH and 0.5 mol/L H 2SO 4. The composition of the Pt–Ru–Ni and Pt–Ru surface particles were determined by EDAX analysis. The particle size and lattice parameter of the catalysts were determined by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD analysis showed that both of the catalysts exhibited face-centered cubic structures and had smaller lattice parameters than Pt-alone catalyst. Their sizes are small, about 4.5 nm. No significant differences in the methanol electro-oxidation on both electrodes were found by using cyclic voltammetry, especially regarding the onset potential for methanol electro-oxidation. The electrochemically active-specific areas of the Pt–Ru–Ni/C and Pt–Ru/C catalysts are almost the same. But, the catalytic activity of the Pt–Ru–Ni/C catalyst is higher for methanol electro-oxidation than that of the Pt–Ru/C catalyst. Its tolerance performance to CO formed as one of the intermediates of methanol electro-oxidation is better than that of the Pt–Ru/C catalyst.