Key parameters for the preparation of high performance PtRu/C anode catalyst for DMFC

Catalyst accounts for more than half the cost of MEA in Direct methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC). PtRu/C is currently the state-of-the-art catalyst for the anodic methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). However, the inferior performance of the current state-of-the-art PtRu/C catalyst remains one of the major obstacles towards the realization of DMFC Development of low cost and high performance anode catalyst is therefore desperately needed in order to bring DMFC to the consumers market. In this study, carbon support with high surface area, in conjunction with its surface modification, was employed in order to enhance the dispersion of Pt and Ru active sites. Enhancement in PtRu dispersion resulted in the decreases in particle size and increases in PtRu utilization. Furthermore, better dispersion of PtRu was obtained when NaH₂PO₂ was used as the reduction agents in the deposition-precipitation procedure. The conductivity of the carbon support also contributes to the performance of the catalyst towards MOR. Details on the key parameters for the preparation of high performance PtRu/C catalyst for the anodic MOR will be revealed in this paper.