Searching for suitable catalysts for a passive direct methanol fuel cell cathode

M. ASTEAZARAN; G. CESPEDES; J.F. BENGOA, M.S. MORENO, S.G. MARCHETTI, R.E. VANDENBERGHE AND R.C. MERCADER; S. BENGIÓ; A.M.CASTRO LUNA

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015 vol. 40 p. 14632 - 14639

0360-3199

Trimetallic PtMRu/C cathode catalysts with M = Co or Fe obtained by an impregnationprocedure using ethylene glycol and NaBH4 as reducing agent, with suitable activity for theoxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and improved tolerance to methanol, have been physicallycharacterized by HRTEM, EDS and XPS. The examined nanoparticles have a smallparticle size and are well spread on the carbon support. Pt is mainly found as Pt(0) and Co,Fe and Ru are mostly oxidized. To study their durability and performance for ORR andmethanol tolerance over time, the catalysts were subjected to an electrochemical acceleratedstress test (AST), consisting in cycling the potential 2000 times. Polarization curvesfor ORR with and without methanol were recorded. After the AST the trimetallic PtMRu/Ccatalysts are able to keep their performance for ORR in the presence of methanol.