A 60% PtRu/C anode electrocatalyst for a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) was prepared by impregnation method, using sodium hypophosphite as reductive agent. Effects of support on the catalyst activities were studied. The structure, morphology and electrocatalytic performances were characterized by XRD, XPS, and Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV). These results indicated that the structure and electrocatalytic properties were greatly influenced by the pH value of impregnating solution. The catalyst was prepared at the pH value of 7. It has higher dispersion, higher catalytic activity for methanol oxidation, good tolerance to poisoning species and the average particle size of 2.8nm. Compared with the previous PtRu/C catalyst, the PtRu/C catalyst possesses a higher catalytic activity producing current density of 60 mAmg-1 at 0.45V (vs.SCE) with a scanning rate of 20mV/s.
Keywords: Direct methanol fuel cell; PtRu/C catalysts; Electrocatalysis
Keywords: Direct methanol fuel cell; PtRuP/C catalysts; Electrocatalysis
