Nickel-modified manganese oxide as an active electrocatalyst for oxidation of methanol in fuel cells

Anodic oxidation of methanol is investigated in sulfuric acid electrolyte at 25° and 60°C on iron and nickel modified manganese oxide electrodes. The oxide layer is produced as a thin film in situ by thermal decomposition of the precursors on a platinum substrate. The electrochemical activity is investigated as a function of the nature of the dopant, the amount of dopant, and the effect of heat treatment of electrode strips. It is found that nickel modified manganese oxide is significantly active for the electro-oxidation of methanol.