Determination of the efficiency of methanol oxidation in a direct methanol fuel cell

The PtRu-SiO2-TiO2/C anode electrocatalyst ( loading 10wt% PtRu ) of direct methanol fuel cell is prepared by the surface reductive deposition method, using Vulcan XC-72 carbon black coated with nanometer SiO2-TiO2 (SiO2-TiO2/C) as the isotopic carrier. The surface characteristics of nanometer SiO2-TiO2 is studied through nitrogen adsorption, which shows that it is of porous structure together with large surface area, that is benefit to enhance the activity of SiO2-TiO2 and the dispersion of PtRu nanoparticle on the carrier of SiO2-TiO2/C. X-ray diffraction( XRD ) and transmission electron microscopy( TEM ) are used to characterize the catalyst. The PtRu nanoparticle homodisperse in SiO2-TiO2/C carrier with diameter around 2.4 nm. Cyclic voltammograms and chronoamperograms are conducted to compare the electrochemical methanol oxidation activity of the PtRu-SiO2-TiO2/C catalyst with the commercial PuRu/C catalyst ( 20 wt% of PtRu ). The results show that PtRu-SiO2-TiO2/C has higher catalytic activity and anti-poisoning ability for methanol oxidation, the addition of porous SiO2-TiO2 can replace the PtRu to some extent, comparing with the commercial PuRu/C catalyst, not only the loading of PtRu has been cut down 50%, but also the electro-oxidizing activity of methanol improved. The electro-oxidizing mechanism is basically analyzed.

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Investigation of methanol oxidation on a highly active and stable Pt–Sn electrocatalyst supported on carbon–polyaniline composite for application in a passive direct methanol fuel cell

Materials Research Bulletin ◽

10.1016/j.materresbull.2015.02.053 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 68 ◽

pp. 166-178 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Mitra Amani ◽

Mohammad Kazemeini ◽

Mahboobeh Hamedanian ◽

Hassan Pahlavanzadeh ◽

Hussein Gharibi

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Methanol Oxidation ◽

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽

Highly Active ◽

Direct Methanol ◽

Methanol Fuel Cell

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Electrocatalytic performance of Pt/Ru/Sn/W fullerene electrode for methanol oxidation in direct methanol fuel cell

Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology ◽

10.1016/s1872-5813(13)60011-0 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 91-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Karimi Mohammad ◽

Aboufazeli Forouzan ◽

Zhad Hamid Reza Lotfi Zadeh ◽

Sadeghi Omid ◽

Najafi Ezzatollah

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Methanol Oxidation ◽

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽

Electrocatalytic Performance ◽

Direct Methanol ◽

Methanol Fuel Cell

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Materializing efficient methanol oxidation via electron delocalization in nickel hydroxide nanoribbon

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-020-18459-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xiaopeng Wang ◽

Shibo Xi ◽

Wee Siang Vincent Lee ◽

Pengru Huang ◽

Peng Cui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Methanol Oxidation ◽

Nickel Hydroxide ◽

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ◽

Platinum Group Metal ◽

Oxidation Catalyst ◽

Oxidation Activity ◽

Onset Potential ◽

Direct Methanol ◽

Methanol Fuel Cell

Abstract Achieving a functional and durable non-platinum group metal-based methanol oxidation catalyst is critical for a cost-effective direct methanol fuel cell. While Ni(OH)2 has been widely studied as methanol oxidation catalyst, the initial process of oxidizing Ni(OH)2 to NiOOH requires a high potential of 1.35 V vs. RHE. Such potential would be impractical since the theoretical potential of the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction is at 1.23 V. Here we show that a four-coordinated nickel atom is able to form charge-transfer orbitals through delocalization of electrons near the Fermi energy level. As such, our previously reported periodically arranged four-six-coordinated nickel hydroxide nanoribbon structure (NR-Ni(OH)2) is able to show remarkable methanol oxidation activity with an onset potential of 0.55 V vs. RHE and suggests the operability in direct methanol fuel cell configuration. Thus, this strategy offers a gateway towards the development of high performance and durable non-platinum direct methanol fuel cell.

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