Abstract:

The electrocatalytic performance for the oxygen reduction and the methanol tolerance ability of the Pd-Pt/C catalysts with different atom ratios of Pd and Pt was investigated. It is found that when the atom ratio of Pd and Pt is increased from 20∶0 to 17∶3, the electrocatalytic performance of the Pd-Pt/C catalyst for the oxygen reduction is increased. Furthermore, all the Pd-Pt/C catalysts with the atom ratios in the range of 20∶0~17∶3 have no electrocatalytic activity for the methanol oxidation and thus possess the excellent methanol tolerance ability. When the atom ratio is increased to 16∶4, the electrocatalytic performance of the Pd-Pt/C catalyst for the oxygen reduction is still increased, but the methanol tolerance ability is decreased. Thus, the Pd-Pt/C catalyst with 17∶3 atom ratio possesses an excellent electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction and methanol tolerance ability. Therefore, it can be used as the cathodic catalyst in direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC).

Key words: Direct formic acid fuel cell, Carbon supported Pd-Pt catalyst, Methanol tolerance ability, Oxygen reduction, Atom ratio