Raman, R.K. and Shukla, A.K. and Gayen, A. and Hegde, M.S. and Priolkar, K.R. and Sarode, P.R. and Emura, S. (2006) Tailoring a Pt–Ru catalyst for enhanced methanol electro-oxidation. Journal of Power Sources, 157 (1). pp. 45-55. ISSN 0378-7753

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Abstract

A carbon-supported (1:1) Pt–Ru (Pt–Ru/C) alloy catalyst has been prepared in-house by the sulfito-complex route, and has been tailored to achieve enhanced activity towards methanol electro-oxidation by annealing it at varying temperatures in air. The catalyst samples annealed between 250 and 300 ◦C in air for 30 min exhibit superior catalytic activity towards methanol electro-oxidation in a solid-polymer-electrolyte direct methanol fuel cell (SPE-DMFCs) operating at 90 ◦C. Both the as-prepared and annealed Pt–Ru/C catalysts have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), and cyclic voltammetry. It is conjectured that while annealing the Pt–Ru/C catalysts, both Pt Pt and Pt Ru bonds increase whereas the Pt O bond shrinks. This is accompanied with a positive variation in Ru/Pt metal ratio suggesting the diffusion of Ru metal from the bulk catalyst to surface with an increase in oxidic ruthenium content. Such a treatment appears seminal for enhancing the electrochemical activity of Pt–Ru catalysts towards methanol oxidation.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Methanol electro-oxidation; Direct methanol fuel cell; Electron microscopy; Photoelectron spectroscopy; X-ray absorption spectroscopy
Subjects:	Electroorganic
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
Depositing User:	ttbdu cecri
Date Deposited:	28 Feb 2012 15:15
Last Modified:	28 Feb 2012 15:15
URI:	http://cecri.csircentral.net/id/eprint/704

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