Catalysts for DMFC: relation between morphology and electrochemical performance

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 48; no. 25; pp. 3869 - 3878
• Main Authors: Lizcano-Valbuena, William H, Paganin, Valdecir A, Leite, Carlos A.P, Galembeck, Fernando, Gonzalez, Ernesto R
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 15.11.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemistry; DMFC; Electrochemistry; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; General and physical chemistry; Kinetics and mechanism of reactions; Methanol electrooxidation; Pt–Ru/C catalysts; Methanol electrooxidation; DMFC; Fuel cells; Pt–Ru/C catalysts; Particle size; Catalytic reaction; Catalyst selectivity; Industrial application; DMFC: Fuel cells; Alcohol fuel cells; Transition metal; Experimental study; Metal particle; Supported catalyst; Electrocatalysis; Transmission electron microscopy; Activated carbon; Oxidative degradation; Pt Ru/C catalysts; Reaction mechanism; Carbon monoxide; Electrochemical reaction; Catalyst activity; Binary alloy; Methanol
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/S0013-4686(03)00523-1

In this work Pt–Ru/C alloys were prepared by chemical reduction using various modifications of the formic acid method with the objective of improving the performance. The supported alloys were characterized by XRD, backscattering and TEM analyses, and the active areas were determined by CO adsorption. The materials showed similar particle sizes and different morphological characteristics. The performance of the supported alloys for methanol electrooxidation was evaluated by linear sweep voltammetry experiments and curves of cell potential vs. current density in a single direct methanol fuel cell. It is shown that the difference in the morphology of the catalysts in nano- and microscale is the main effect in the different performances.