Author/Authors :
Beydaghi, Hossein Department of Chemistry - Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran - Fuel Cell and Solar Cell Laboratory - Renewable Energy Research Center - Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran , Javanbakht, Mehran Department of Chemistry - Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran - Fuel Cell and Solar Cell Laboratory - Renewable Energy Research Center - Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran , Bagheri, Ahmad Department of Chemistry - Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran - Fuel Cell and Solar Cell Laboratory - Renewable Energy Research Center - Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran , Ghafarian-Zahmatkesh, Hossein Department of Chemistry - Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran - Fuel Cell and Solar Cell Laboratory - Renewable Energy Research Center - Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran , Hooshyari, Khadijeh Department of Chemistry - Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran - Fuel Cell and Solar Cell Laboratory - Renewable Energy Research Center - Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran
Abstract :
In this study, the activity, stability and performance of carbon supported platinum
(Pt/C) electrocatalyst in cathode and carbon supported Pt and ruthenium (PtRu/C)
electrocatalyst in the anode of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) were studied.
The Pt/C and PtRu/C electrocatalysts were prepared by the impregnation reduction
method. The β-D-glucose was used as a protection agent to reduce particle
size and improve performance of the prepared electrocatalysts. The prepared
electrocatalysts were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission
electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The results of XRD and TEM showed that
the average particle size of metals in the prepared electrocatalysts is between 2-3 nm.
Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and
chronoamperometry were used to investigate electrooxidation of methanol and
electrocatalytic activity of the prepared electrocatalysts. The results showed that the
PtRu/C electrocatalyst has better activity in methanol condition due to its smaller
average particle size of nanoparticles, superior activity for methanol oxidation and
its higher carbon monoxide (CO) tolerance. The single DMFC cell, consisting of
protected electrocatalysts, exhibited a 28% increase in peak power density at room
temperature, with the maximum peak power density of 22.13 mW cm-2.
Keywords :
Electocatalyst , Impregnation reduction method , Protection agent , Direct methanol fuel cells
